The boisterous sold-out Klagenfurt center court stadium crowd gave much deserving of the numerous standing ovations to USA's legendary Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh after they won the gold medal Saturday to complete a run of seven consecutive victories over a world-class field at the FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour A1 Women's Grand Slam.
In the gold medal match, USA's fourth-seeded May-Treanor/Walsh created their own dynamo and fed off the encouraging energy of the vocal crowd of over 8,000 that packed the center court stadium in hot and sunny climate to defeat China's second-seeded Chen Xue/Xi Zhang, 21-14, 26-24 in the magnificent and stirring 37-minute championship match, an FIVB press release said.
It was the 11th time in FIVB history that the China and the United States have met for the women's gold medal, and the USA leads 9-2, the same record USA's May-Treanor/Walsh have over China's Xue/Zhang, although the only other gold medal match between USA's May-Treanor/Walsh and China's Xue/Zhang was USA's win in Montreal, Canada in 2007.
The center court meeting between USA's 2008 Olympic gold medalists and China's 2008 Olympic bronze medalists was all that would be expected of this type of match in this type of dramatic setting.
Start the slideshow to see Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh's journey to gold and other exciting moments of the tournament:
Kerry Walsh (R) and Misty May-Treanor of the U.S. celebrate after winning their FIVB Beach Volleyball Grand Slam final match against China's Xue Chen and Zhang Xi in Klagenfurt August 6, 2011. REUTERS/Dominic EbenbichlerAustria's Sara Montagnolli reacts after losing their FIVB Beachvolleyball Grand Slam match against Lauren Fendrick and Brooke Hanson from the U.S. in Klagenfurt August 4, 2011. REUTERS/Dominic EbenbichlerChina's Zhang Xi dives for the ball during their FIVB Beachvolleyball Grand Slam match against Brazil's Maria Clara and Carolina Salgado in Klagenfurt August 5, 2011. REUTERS/Dominic EbenbichlerChina's Zhang Xi dives for the ball during their FIVB Beachvolleyball Grand Slam match against Brazil's Maria Clara and Carolina Salgado in Klagenfurt August 5, 2011. REUTERS/Dominic EbenbichlerA general view shows the fully packed centre court during a FIVB Beach Volleyball Grand Slam match in Klagenfurt August 5, 2011. REUTERS/Dominic EbenbichlerMarleen Van Iersel (L) and Sanne Keizer of the Netherlands react after winning their FIVB Beach Volleyball Grand Slam match for third place against Brazil's Talita and Antonelli in Klagenfurt August 6, 2011. REUTERS/Dominic EbenbichlerMarleen Van Iersel of the Netherlands reacts after winning their FIVB Beach Volleyball Grand Slam match for third place against Brazil's Talita and Antonelli in Klagenfurt August 6, 2011. REUTERS/Dominic EbenbichlerMarleen Van Iersel of the Netherlands reacts after winning their FIVB Beach Volleyball Grand Slam match for third place against Brazil's Talita and Antonelli in Klagenfurt August 6, 2011. REUTERS/Dominic EbenbichlerMarleen Van Iersel of the Netherlands holds the ball during their FIVB Beach Volleyball Grand Slam match for third place against Brazil's Talita and Antonelli in Klagenfurt August 6, 2011. REUTERS/Dominic EbenbichlerUSA's Kerri Walsh, left and Misty May-Treanor after winning their third gold match of the season and the 38th of their FIVB Swatch World Tour career Saturday in Klagenfurt, Austria.FIVB.orgKerry Walsh (L) of the U.S. spikes the ball past China's Xue Chen during their FIVB Beach Volleyball Grand Slam final match in Klagenfurt August 6, 2011. REUTERS/Dominic EbenbichlerKerry Walsh (R) and Misty May-Treanor of the U.S. celebrate after winning their FIVB Beach Volleyball Grand Slam final match against China's Xue Chen and Zhang Xi in Klagenfurt August 6, 2011. REUTERS/Dominic EbenbichlerXue Chen (L) of China spikes the ball against Kerry Walsh of the U.S. during their FIVB Beach Volleyball Grand Slam final match in Klagenfurt August 6, 2011. REUTERS/Dominic EbenbichlerXue Chen (2nd L) of China spikes the ball against Kerry Walsh and Misty May-Treanor of the U.S. as teammate Zhang Xi watches on, during their FIVB Beach Volleyball Grand Slam final match in Klagenfurt August 6, 2011.REUTERS/Dominic EbenbichlerKerry Walsh of the U.S. dives for the ball during the FIVB Beach Volleyball Grand Slam final match against China's Xue Chen and Zhang Xi in Klagenfurt August 6, 2011. REUTERS/Dominic EbenbichlerKerry Walsh of the U.S. dives for the ball during the FIVB Beach Volleyball Grand Slam final match against China's Xue Chen and Zhang Xi in Klagenfurt August 6, 2011. REUTERS/Dominic EbenbichlerREUTERS/Dominic EbenbichlerREUTERS/Dominic EbenbichlerKerry Walsh (R) and Misty May-Treanor of the U.S. celebrate after winning their FIVB Beach Volleyball Grand Slam final match against China's Xue Chen and Zhang Xi in Klagenfurt August 6, 2011. REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler
