Kerri Walsh Jennings wants Tokyo gold to retire on top
By John Buhler
Kerri Walsh Jennings is one of the most accomplished Olympic athletes of all time, but covets a gold medal in Tokyo so she can retire on top of her game.
Kerri Walsh Jennings is already a three-time Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball. Walsh Jennings took home gold for the United States in the 2004 Athens Games, the 2008 Beijing Games and the 2012 London Games. However, she only took home the bronze medal in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. Obviously, this is still driving her to take home gold in Tokyo this summer.
“I pray that after Tokyo, you know, leaving there with the gold that my heart’s full and having lived the journey beautifully that my heart will be satisfied and I’ll retire,” said Walsh Jennings to FanSided‘s Mark Carman on behalf of Sunsweet. “Otherwise, watch out, Paris.”
Should Walsh Jennings qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Games, she will become the oldest Olympic Women’s beach volleyball player in history. Walsh Jennings is 41-years-old and a mother of three children.
For the better part of two decades, Walsh Jennings has been the face of U.S. Volleyball. Her wishes to go out on top certainly drives her in her pursuit of tasting Olympic gold for the fourth time. Even if she comes up short in Tokyo, that’s not going to stop her from trying again for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Here is what she had to say about what’s still motivating her into her early 40s.
“It’s just something inherent in me,” said Walsh Jennings. “I love it. Winning that bronze in Rio kind of fuels me and drives me. Nothing to prove, but something to improve on as far as that’s concerned. And I just have a deep love for the sport. And I’m just not done yet.”
You can tell by Walsh Jennings’ comments that she is incredibly confident in her athletic abilities at this stage of her career, as well as her driving passion to take home Olympic gold for the fourth time this summer in Tokyo.
As of 2019, Walsh Jennings has a new volleyball teammate in Brooke Sweat. Walsh Jennings most recently was with April Ross from 2013 to 2017, who she took home bronze with in Rio de Janeiro. Her most noted former teammate was Misty May-Treanor from 2001 to 2012. Together, they took home Olympic gold in 2004, 2008 and 2012. Will Walsh Jennings take home gold again?
Next: Each State's Nominee for America's Team
Kerri Walsh Jennings spoke with FanSided on behalf of Sunsweet.