Misty May-Treanor, one of the greatest beach volleyball players in history, once nearly quit the sport after being cut from her high school team. Still, she turned that setback into motivation and went on to achieve legendary heights in her career.
Born on July 30, 1977, in California, she rose to fame through her powerful partnership with Kerri Walsh Jennings.
During that time, she won three consecutive Olympic gold medals in 2004 (Athens), 2008 (Beijing), and 2012 (London).
She also claimed 112 career tournament wins, including multiple FIVB World Tour titles and AVP championships, making her the most successful female beach volleyball player of all time.
Her college career at Long Beach State was equally impressive, where she led her team to an undefeated season and an NCAA title in 1998.
Misty May-Treanor Took A Powerful U-turn in Her Life After Nearly Quitting Volleyball At 16!
But Misty May-Treanor‘s journey wasn’t always golden. At just 16, she was cut from her high school volleyball team.
This was a moment that left her heartbroken and made her doubt her future in the sport.
She thought about quitting altogether. But instead of giving up, she leaned on her family, especially her father, Butch May, who had once been an Olympic volleyball player himself.
However, with encouragement from her father, she joined a competitive club team outside of school and kept training.
She improved her skills and rediscovered her love for the game, eventually becoming a legend in the sport.
These days, Misty May-Treanor is focused on mentoring young athletes and shaping the future of the sport of volleyball.
She serves as the Director of Volleyball at Long Beach City College, where she leads and develops competitive teams.
Additionally, Misty volunteers as an assistant coach for the University of Southern California’s women’s sand volleyball program.
Beyond coaching, she runs a beach volleyball club called Dream in Gold (DIG), which is dedicated to training and inspiring young players.
Off the court, Misty is a sought-after motivational speaker, recently headlining the 2025 Celebrating Women in Sports Luncheon in Orlando.
Through coaching, public speaking, and youth advocacy, she remains a powerful role model and ambassador for the sport.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Misty’s father, Butch May, was a member of the U.S. men’s national volleyball team while her mother, Barbara May, was a nationally ranked tennis player.
- She married Matt Treanor, a professional baseball player, in 2004. The couple has three children and resides in California.
