Triple Olympic gold the swansong lure for Misty

Unimaginable in Beijing four years ago, the prospect of winning an unprecedented third Olympic gold medal at this year's London Games has become the driving force for Misty May-Treanor.

The statuesque American has already piled up 110 individual championship wins in domestic and international competition to become the most successful female beach volleyball player ever, but that is not yet enough.

When May-Treanor finally retires from competition after the London Olympics have ended, she wants to leave the sport on a giddy high, having set records with her long-time playing partner Kerri Walsh that will never be equalled.

It would be a great way to leave the game, May-Treanor, 34, told Reuters when asked about the significance of winning a third gold medal at the Olympics in partnership with Walsh.

"We have been setting standards for others to follow and setting records that may be unbroken. These are great things but we want to be a legendary team, untouchable."

"The mere fact that we are able to come together and still be at the top has been great, but we want a three-repeat win, something no other team may ever be able to do in volleyball."

"The pair first played together after the 2000 season and they went on to mine Olympic gold at Athens in 2004 and again at Beijing in 2008 before splitting up to pursue other interests."

Walsh and her husband decided to start a family while May-Treanor joined America's version of the hit TV show Dancing With The Stars and also embarked on a master's degree in coaching and athletic administration.

Though May-Treanor's Dancing With The Stars stint was short-lived after she ruptured her achilles tendon during rehearsals for the third week of the 2008 edition, she has no regrets over her decision to join the show.

... contd.

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