Born: 1977 (Los Angeles, California)
Biography:
Misty Elizabeth May-Treanor (née May; born July 30, 1977) is a retired American professional beach volleyball player. She is a three-time Olympic gold medalist and, as of August 2012, was the most successful female beach volleyball player, having won 112 tournaments in domestic and international competition. May-Treanor and her teammate, Kerri Walsh Jennings, were gold medalists in beach volleyball at the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Summer Olympics. They also won the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in 2003, 2005, and 2007. Their partnership set various records, including a win streak of 112 consecutive matches in 2007–2008, breaking their own previous record of 89 consecutive match wins. They have been hailed as the greatest beach volleyball team of all time.
Born in 1977 in Los Angeles, May was raised in a family with a strong sporting background. Her mother, Barbara, was a nationally ranked tennis player, while her father, Butch May, was a member of the 1968 United States men’s national volleyball team. May has two older half-brothers, Brack and Scott. She began playing beach volleyball at a young age, joining her parents in games at the Santa Monica Pier. At the age of 8, she teamed up with her father to compete in her first beach volleyball tournament. Despite her love for volleyball, May also took part in soccer, tennis, and dance.
May-Treanor attended Brightwood Elementary School in Monterey Park and Roosevelt Elementary School in Santa Monica for her primary education. During this time, she was babysat by Karch Kiraly, a future national volleyball player and head coach of the United States women’s national volleyball team. In her 2010 autobiography, May-Treanor revealed that both of her parents were alcoholics, and her mother would sometimes become violent when drinking. As a result, she lived with her grandparents from the age of 4 to 15. In 1988, her father committed to sobriety after being involved in a car accident in which he struck and nearly killed a motorcyclist.
May-Treanor attended Newport Harbor High School in Costa Mesa, California, from 1991 to 1995. During her time there, she played a pivotal role in helping her volleyball team win the state championship in both her sophomore and senior years. In 1993, she was named the Division I All-CIF team Player of the Year, and by the following year, she was recognized by USA Today as the best high school girls’ volleyball player in the nation. In addition to volleyball, May also competed in track and field and was particularly skilled in the high jump. In 1993, she finished second in the CIF California State Meet.
After high school, May-Treanor attended Long Beach State University, where she continued to excel in indoor volleyball. She was a four-time All-American and led her team to a national championship in 1998. Despite her success in indoor volleyball, May-Treanor made the transition to beach volleyball after graduating. She initially partnered with Holly McPeak, and the duo had several victories together, including winning the gold medal at the 2003 FIVB World Tour Finals.
However, it was May-Treanor’s partnership with Kerri Walsh Jennings that cemented her legacy in the sport. The duo formed one of the most dominant teams in beach volleyball history, capturing gold at the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Olympics. They also achieved success at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships, winning in 2003, 2005, and 2007. Their record-breaking 112-match win streak from 2007–2008 solidified their status as the greatest team of all time.
May-Treanor retired from competitive play on August 8, 2012, shortly after winning her third Olympic gold medal with Walsh Jennings at the London Olympics. Her contributions to the sport of beach volleyball are immeasurable, and she was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2016. She continues to be an inspiration to aspiring athletes and a symbol of excellence in women’s sports.
Awards:
– Three-time Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball (2004, 2008, 2012)
– FIVB Beach Volleyball World Champion (2003, 2005, 2007)
– Inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2016.