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15 greatest Olympians to appear on a Wheaties box

By Josh Criswell

Jul 9, 2015; Montreal, CAN; A general view of the olympics rings on top the Canada Olympic House. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 9, 2015; Montreal, CAN; A general view of the olympics rings on top the Canada Olympic House. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports /
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Beach Volleyball: 2008 Summer Olympics: USA Misty May-Treanor (2) in action, spike vs China during Women's Gold Medal Match at Chaoyang Park BV Ground. Rain, weather. Beijing, China 8/21/2008 CREDIT: Bob Rosato (Photo by Bob Rosato /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X80863 TK1 R1 F80 )
Beach Volleyball: 2008 Summer Olympics: USA Misty May-Treanor (2) in action, spike vs China during Women’s Gold Medal Match at Chaoyang Park BV Ground. Rain, weather. Beijing, China 8/21/2008 CREDIT: Bob Rosato (Photo by Bob Rosato /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X80863 TK1 R1 F80 ) /

7. Misty May-Treanor, Beach Volleyball

Beach volleyball made its first official Olympic appearance at the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta , but it was Misty May-Treanor — alongside teammate Kerri Walsh — that put the sport on the map after teaming up in 2001.

May-Treanor was hindered by an abdominal injury during her Olympic debut at the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, where she finished fifth alongside Holly McPeak. After teaming up with Walsh, her Olympic fortunes took a meteoric upturn.

May-Treanor and Walsh played on the international FIVB tour in 2001 and 2002, winning a championship in 2002 before joining the AVP tour for the 2003 season. The duo would begin their tenure in the league by earning “Team of the Year” honors for five consecutive seasons from 2003 to 2007.

They also claimed World Championship gold three times during their partnership, but it was the Olympics where May-Treanor and Walsh would achieve their greatest feats.

Their three Olympic gold medals from the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics ensure that nobody will be able to touch their status as the greatest athletes in the sport’s brief Olympic history anytime soon.

May-Treanor made her Wheaties box appearance in 2012, following her final career Olympic Games.

Next: No. 6

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