Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Defend Athens Gold at Beijing (Photos)

andare truly a dynamic duo. They captured the 2004 Olympic Beach Volleyball Gold Medal after winning all seven matches. They are ranked number 1 in the world but China got number 1 seed at the 2008 Beijing Games because of the 'homer' rule. Misty and Kerri were a sight to behold as they defended their 2004 Athens win and won back to back gold - beating China to capture the top prize in Beijing.

The phenomenal team joined forces in 2000. Kerri remembers that she met her husband Casey Jennings, also a beach volleyball player, on the day she auditioned to be Misty's partner. The 6'3" 29 year old Walsh surpassed the $1 million earnings mark in July 2006. She will turn 30 during the Olympics on August 15th.

Misty May-Treanor is married to Florida Marlins baseball player Matt Treanor. Her career earnings to date are in excess of $1.7 million. The 31 year old is 5'10" and is nicknamed The Turtle.

Walsh had arthroscopic surgery in November to repair a rotator cuff injury and remove a bone spur that had been pushing into a tendon. She is wearing ink-black 'kinesio tape' on the shoulder to increase blood flow.

The duo have won 18 tournaments in a row, 118 matches. Just when people thought they couldn't get any better they continue to strengthen their performance. They visited the White House in mid-July and met with President George W. Bush. They crossed paths again with the leader of the free world during the opening ceremonies and invited him to stop by their venue. He did just that on Saturday.

The Olympic volleyball community is a very tight knit group. Walsh, a close friend of Elisabeth 'Wiz' Bachman since the women were age 14, was deeply saddened to learn about the tragic murder of Minnesota CEO Todd Bachman and life threatening injuries to Barbara Bachman on Saturday. See that story and photos here.

We've got some HOT photos of Michael Phelps here.

Check out some great photos below - including pics of the bikini hotties with President Bush.





































Photos: WENN