Misty May-Treanor

Misty May-Treanor is a retired American professional beach volleyball player, widely regarded as one of the greatest in the sport's history. Born on July 30, 1977, in Los Angeles, California, she was introduced to volleyball at a young age through her parents—her father, Butch May, was a member of the 1968 U.S. men's Olympic volleyball team. Misty played indoor volleyball at Long Beach State, where she led the team to an undefeated season in 1998 and earned NCAA Player of the Year honors. Transitioning to beach volleyball in the late 1990s, she formed a legendary partnership with Kerri Walsh Jennings, with whom she won three consecutive Olympic gold medals in 2004, 2008, and 2012 .

Throughout her career, May-Treanor amassed 112 tournament victories, the most by any female player in beach volleyball history, and set a record with a 112-match win streak alongside Walsh Jennings . She was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2016, solidifying her legacy in the sport. Beyond her athletic achievements, Misty has been involved in coaching and community outreach, serving as the Director of Volleyball at Long Beach City College and as a Sports Ambassador for Special Olympics Southern California .

One of Misty May-Treanor's memorable quotes reflects her mindset on competition and resilience: "The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do." This statement encapsulates her approach to challenges—viewing obstacles as opportunities to prove herself and push beyond perceived limits.