RIO DE JANIERO, Brazil – Kerri Walsh Jennings won her fourth Olympic medal Wednesday night, defeating No. 1 seeded pair Larissa and Talita of Brazil in the bronze medal match at Copacabana Stadium.
"It feels like a gold. Once you win a semifinal, the gold medal match is easy," said Walsh Jennings. "I mean no disrespect to winning a gold medal, it takes everything you have, but you're going to go home with a medal."
.@kerrileewalsh wins #bronze in beach volleyball!! #GoStanford #USA #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/igYYBZLQpo
— Stanford Beach VB (@StanfordBeachVB) August 18, 2016
Paired with April Ross, Walsh Jennings fell behind by a set, dropping the first frame 21-17 to the top-ranked Brazilians. Walsh Jennings and Ross changed the tide in the second set, eventually evening the match with a 21-17 win of their own. The Americans closed the door with a 15-9 third set, sealing Walsh Jennings` fourth Olympic medal and first career bronze on the beach.
.@AprilRossBeach @kerrileewalsh won bronze on Thursday morning! Read about the match https://t.co/Yv7Hu8shz6 pic.twitter.com/cZ4uxjim72
— USAV Beach (@USAVBeach) August 18, 2016
Walsh Jennings improves to 27-1 in Olympic beach volleyball play, having claimed the previous three gold medals in Athens, Bejing and London with Misty May-Treanor.
Walsh Jennings is also now the most decorated Olympic beach athlete (man or woman) in the sport.