Olympic Volleyball 2012: Analyzing Toughest Opponents for May-Treanor and Walsh

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh aren't unstoppable anymore. 

That feels weird to say. The talented American beach volleyball duo has taken home gold the past two Olympics. They have won gold at the 2003, 2005 and 2007 World Championships. 

But after they took a year off from playing with each other in 2010, last year's World Championships marked quite possibly the beginning of a new era.

May-Treanor and Walsh took home—wait for it—silver. I know, terrible. They are actually susceptible to that thing called losing.

So, while you may have gotten used to seeing the Americans take home gold in beach volleyball at the Olympics, London could very possibly bring some changes.

Let's take a look at the teams that pose as the toughest threats.

Larissa and Juliana, Brazil

The No. 1 ranked team in the world is the one that knocked off May-Treanor and Walsh at the 2011 World Championships for gold, so naturally, they are easily the biggest threat for gold. 

The talented duo doesn't have any Olympic experience together—Juliana sat out in Beijing because of an injury, leaving Larissa and a new partner to fall to May-Treanor and Walsh in the quarters—but they have absolutely dominated the tour in 2011. 

Despite the lack of experience, at least compared to the Americans, it would be a huge surprise if these two don't make the finals in London.

Zhang Xi and Xue Chen, China

While this duo hasn't been playing together as long as the favorited Americans, they were together at the 2008 Olympics, so they at least have that over the Brazilians.

In 2008, they fell to their countrywomen in the semifinals before winning in the bronze medal game. 

They also took home the bronze at the 2011 World Championships after losing to May-Treanor and Walsh.

This solid duo is consistent, it just doesn't seem like the ceiling is anything more than a bronze medal. Nonetheless, you know they will be around near the end of the tournament and have the potential to contend with anyone. Just don't expect any major upsets from them. 

Jen Kessy and April Ross, United States

Why not go with the duo that is supposed to take over as the next dominant Americans?

Kessy and Ross missed out on the Olympics in 2008, but that has just made them that much hungrier to prove they are the world's best.

It's not like they haven't proven they can't win the big tournament, either. In 2009, Kessy and Ross, former teammates at USC, knocked off Juliana and Larissa to take home the gold medal. 

The fourth-ranked team in the world isn't the favorite going into London, but if they play at the top of their game, there's no question the Americans can compete with the other Americans. 

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