Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings work with sports psychologist to improve connection

If it feels like Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings have been around forever, it’s because they have. On Wednesday, they lost their first set since before the Athens Olympics in 2004 — and Walsh Jennings had pink eye. They are the defending gold medalists in women’s beach volleyball, having won the tournament at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. To say that the duo has been dominant in the 21st century would be an epic understatement.

However, their dominance has not come without distractions. London is the last time May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings will compete together. They are both married with families, and that can create obvious complications. In fact, Kerri says she feels as tho she is married to two people: her husband and Misty. With any marriage comes hurdles, which is why the two recently sought the help of a sports psychologist.

“I’ve known (Misty) for so long and I’m so close to her but I don’t know everything she’s thinking,” Walsh Jennings said according to NBC Olympics. “And it’s really important to just get on the same page and talk about those little things. Nothing’s too little.”

Even one of the most successful partnerships in Olympic history isn’t immune to the basic complications of life. If a sports psychologist helps Misty and Kerri win their third-straight Olympic gold and leave the volleyball world cemented in history, it’s worth every second they’ve spent in their counseling sessions.

Photo credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE