Kerri Walsh Jennings, Misty May-Treanor

As Sports Illustrated writer Phil Taylor says , "With all due respect to the other teams who compete in beach volleyball ... there is the duo of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings, and there is everybody else." May-Treanor, left, and Walsh Jennings went into retirement after the 2008 Beijing Olympics. During their time off, May-Treanor tore her Achilles tendon while rehearsing for "Dancing With the Stars," and Walsh Jennings gave birth -- twice. Still, the duo reunited to dominate the 2012 Olympics, losing only one set in their quest for gold.