Greatest Women’s Olympic Medal Winners in Beach Volleyball

The sport of beach volleyball is incredibly popular among women these days. The women’s beach volleyball tournaments took place in 1996 (Atlanta), 2000 (Sydney), 2004 (Athens), 2008 (Beijing), 2012 (London) and 2016 (Rio). The next women’s beach volleyball tournament is going to take place in 2020 (Tokyo).

According to the statistics, athletes from such countries as the United States, Brazil, Australia and China won most medals at the Summer Olympic Games. Among the famous female volleyball players who won medals at the Summer Olympic Games are: Kerri Walsh, Misty May, Adriana Behar, April Ross, Adriana Samuel and others. The question is – who is the greatest women’s Olympic medal winner in the beach volleyball sport of all time? Now, it’s time to get the answer to this interesting question.

Today, we’ll talk about the medal leaders in the sport of beach volleyball. We’ll tell you about their sport careers and, of course, describe their achievements at the Olympic Games. Read on to learn more about the greatest women’s Olympic medal winners in beach volleyball.

Kerri Lee Walsh Jennings (the United States, 4 Olympic Medals)

Let’s get started with Kerri Lee Walsh Jennings (also known as Six Feet of Sunshine). She is the legendary female beach volleyball player from the United States. Kerri Lee Walsh Jennings took part at the Olympic Games five times and won 3 Gold Olympic medals (2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing and 2012 London) as well as 1 Bronze Olympic medal (2016 Rio de Janeiro) in beach volleyball. Throughout her sport career, Kerri Lee Walsh Jennings played with many famous female beach volleyball players such as Misty May-Treanor (2001 – 2009), Nicole Branagh (2010), Misty May-Treanor (2011 – 2012) and April Ross (2013 – 2017). The pair Kerri Lee Walsh Jennings – Misty May-Treanor is known for winning the Olympic gold medal three times and being “the greatest beach volleyball team of all time.” Nowadays, Kerri Lee Walsh Jennings plays together with Nicole Branagh.

Misty May-Treanor (the United States, 3 Olympic Medals) Misty May-Treanor (also known as The Turtle) is another three-time Olympic gold medalist from the United States. She participated in the Summer Olympic Games four times and won 3 Gold Olympic medals (2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing and 2012 London) in beach volleyball. Among the athlete’s teammates are: Holly McPeak (1999 – 2000) and Kerri Walsh (2001–2009, 2011–2012).

Sandra Pires Tavares (Brazil, 2 Olympic Medals)

Sandra Pires Tavares is the Olympic gold medalist from Brazil. She represented Brazil at the Summer Olympic Games two times and won 1 Gold Olympic medal (1996 Atlanta) as well as 1 Bronze Olympic medal (2000 Sydney) in beach volleyball. Throughout her sport career, Sandra Pires Tavares partnered with Adriana Samuel and Jackie Silva.

Natalie Louise Cook (Australia, 2 Olympic Medals)

Natalie Louise Cook is the famous female volleyball player from Australia. She is known for being the only woman who has participated in the Summer Olympic Games five times. The athlete has won 1 Gold Olympic medal (2000 Sydney) as well as 1 Bronze Olympic medal (1996 Atlanta) in beach volleyball. Natalie Louise Cook has partnered with many great female volleyball players including Nicole Sanderson, Tamsin Barnett and Kerri Pottharst. Kerri Pottharst (Australia, 2 Olympic Medals)

Kerri Pottharst is a teammate of Natalie Louise Cook. The pair won 1 Gold Olympic medal (2000 Sydney) as well as 1 Bronze Olympic medal (1996 Atlanta) in beach volleyball. Adriana Samuel (Brazil, 2 Olympic Medals)

Adriana Samuel is a former indoor and beach volleyball player from Brazil. She was a member of the Brazil women’s national volleyball team. Later, the athlete switched her focus to the sport of beach volleyball. Adriana Samuel won 1 Silver Olympic medal (1996 Atlanta) as well as 1 Bronze Olympic medal (2000 Sydney) in beach volleyball.

Adriana Behar (Brazil, 2 Olympic Medals)

Adriana Behar is a beach volleyball legend from Brazil. She started her sport career as an indoor volleyball player. Adriana Behar was a member of the Brazil women’s national volleyball team.

She continued her sport career as a beach volleyball player. The athlete has won 2 Silver Olympic medals (2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens). She paired with Shelda Bede and represented Brazil at various beach volleyball tournaments for a long time.

Shelda Bede (Brazil, 2 Olympic Medals)

Shelda Bede is a former beach volleyball player from Brazil. Together with Adriana Behar she won 2 Silver Olympic medals (2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens).

April Ross (the United States, 2 Olympic Medals)

April Ross is a US beach volleyball legend. She started her sport career as an indoor volleyball player and then continued as a beach volleyball player. April Ross played for Orange County Volleyball Club for five years. Plus, she was a part of the U.S. Junior National Team. April Ross also won 1 Silver Olympic medal (2012 London) as well as 1 Bronze Olympic medal (2016 Rio de Janeiro) in beach volleyball. April Ross has changed many partners throughout her beach volleyball career. She paired with such famous female beach volleyball players as Nancy Mason (2006), Barbra Fontana (2006), Keao Burdine (2006), Jennifer Kessy (2007 – 2013), Kerri Walsh Jennings (2013 – 2017) and Lauren Fendrick (2017). April Ross has been playing with Alix Klineman since 2018.

Jackie Silva (Brazil, 1 Olympic Medal)

Jackie Silva is a former female volleyball player from Brazil. The player is well-known in the sport of beach volleyball for her aggressive temperament. Jackie Silva was a member of the Brazil women’s national volleyball team. She also represented Brazil at women’s beach volleyball tournament and won 1 Gold Olympic medal (1996 Atlanta). Jackie Silva partnered with such beach volleyball players as Linda Chisholm and Jackie Silva.

Laura Ludwig (Germany, 1 Olympic Medal)

Laura Ludwig is a Gold Olympic medalist from Germany. She won 1 Gold Olympic medal (2016 Rio de Janeiro) in beach volleyball. Laura Ludwig paired with such players as Sara Goller (2004 – 2012) and Julia Sude (2014) in the past. Nowadays, she plays with Kira Walkenhorst.

Kira Walkenhorst (Germany, 1 Olympic Medal)

Kira Walkenhorst is a beach volleyball star from Germany. Together with Laura Ludwig, she won 1 Gold Olympic medal (2016 Rio de Janeiro) in beach volleyball.

Jennifer Kessy (the United States, 1 Olympic Medal)

Jennifer Kessy is an indoor and beach volleyball player from the United States. She played for the U.S. Junior National Team. The athlete won 1 Silver Olympic medal (2012 London) in beach volleyball. Throughout her beach volleyball career, Jennifer Kessy paired with many great players including Angie Simpson (2000 – 2001), Angie Maredith (2001), Heather Lowe (2001 – 2002), Cary Wendell (2002), Jenny Pavley (2003), Barbra Fontana (2003 – 2004), Holly McPeak (2005), Nancy Mason (2005), Rachel Wacholder (2005 – 2006) and April Ross (2007 – 2013).

Jennifer Kessy has been playing with Emily Day since 2015.

Agatha Bednarczuk (Brazil, 1 Olympic Medal)

Agatha Bednarczuk is a professional beach volleyball player from Brazil. She won 1 Silver

Olympic medal (2016 Rio de Janeiro) in beach volleyball. The pair Agatha Bednarczuk – Barbara Seixas defeated the US pair April Ross – Kerri Walsh-Jennings and reached the finals of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The pair played against the Gold Olympic medalists from Germany, Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst. Agatha Bednarczuk – Barbara Seixas lost the match and won the Silver medal at the Olympic Games. Throughout her sport career, Agatha Bednarczuk changed many partners. The list of beach volleyball player’s includes Sandra Pires (2005), Shaylyn Bede (2006 – 2008), Raquel Pellucci (2010), Maria Antonelli (2013) and Barbara Seixas (2012, 2014 – 2017). Nowadays, Agatha Bednarczuk plays with Eduarda Lisboa. Barbara Seixas (Brazil, 1 Olympic Medal)

Barbara Seixas played together with Agatha Bednarczuk in 2012 and from 2014 till 2017. The Brazilian beach volleyball pair Agatha Bednarczuk – Barbara Seixas won 1 Silver Olympic medal (2016 Rio de Janeiro). Nowadays, she plays together with Fernanda Berti. Wang Jie (China, 1 Olympic Medal)

Wang Jie represents China at beach volleyball tournaments. She won 1 Silver Olympic medal (2008 Beijing).

Tian Jia (China, 1 Olympic Medal)

Tian Jia played together with Wang Jie. As it was mentioned above, the pair Tian Jia – Wang Jie won 1 Silver Olympic medal (2008 Beijing).

Thank you so much for reading this article. As you can see, there are many great female volleyball players who made the Olympic history of beach volleyball. If you take a look at beach volleyball statistics, you’ll see that such a female player as Kerri Lee Walsh Jennings has demonstrated the best results at the Olympic beach volleyball tournaments. Totally, she has won 4 Olympic medals (3 Gold Olympic medals and 1 Bronze medal). It’s fair to say that she is the greatest women’s Olympic medal winner of all time!