One of the signature moments of the London Olympics was yet another memorable chapter in the Kerri Walsh Jennings story. Walsh Jennings, '00, continued a celebrated partnership with Misty May-Treanor to win a third straight gold medal in beach volleyball.
Walsh Jennings, 34, and May-Treanor, 35, survived a hard fought match with China, to end up in an all-U.S. final against April Ross and Jen Kessy, who beat top-seed Brazil for their shot at upset glory. The "three-peat" came decisively, by the same 21-16 margin in two efficient sets, and the courtside festivities included Walsh Jennings holding her two young sons with a U.S. flag draped around her neck.
Forty-one Stanford-connected athletes—alumni and current or incoming students—competed at the London Games. The first to nab a medal, a week into the events, was Kristian Ipsen, '15, who combined with Troy Dumais to win the bronze in 3-meter springboard synchronized diving.
Next to an anthem-playing ceremony was rower Elle Logan, '10, a member of the women's eight that brought home a second straight gold medal. (Logan also was in the boat for the 2008 gold in Beijing.) Stanford women's head coach Yasmin Farooq, the commentator for NBC's rowing coverage, spoke to Logan a few minutes after the race: "She told me she found yet a new level of 'how hard you can pull,' which will no doubt be inspiring to the team back at the Farm."
Twins Bob and Mike Bryan, both '00, won the doubles tennis championship, defeating France's Michael Llodra and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Mike Bryan followed with a bronze in mixed doubles, teaming with Lisa Raymond to beat a German duo.
Large medal hauls began as team competitions concluded. Led by tournament-leading goal scorer Maggie Steffens, '16, the women's water polo squad won the gold medal with an 8-5 drubbing of Spain. Steffans's teammates included her sister Jessica, '09, Annika Dries, '13, Melissa Seidemann, '12 and Brenda Villa, '03.
And in one of the Games' marquee showdowns, the U.S. women's soccer team brought home gold with a 2-1 win over Japan and a roster that included Rachel Buehler, '07, Kelley O'Hara, '10, and Nicole Barnhart, '04.
Other notable efforts included a seventh-place finish in the women's 3-meter springboard diving by Cassidy Krug, '07, who was in range of the bronze during her final dives. Rowers David Banks and Jake Cornelius, both '05, were in the U.S. eight boat that finished fourth in the final, just 0.3 seconds short of bronze.
