Misty May was the national champion Long Beach State volleyball player as well as three time Olympic gold medalist, and the 1999 Honda Cup winner. Misty says she is one of the lucky ones. She was not asked to choose a sport in her youth. Rather she played multiple sports all the while living on the beach where volleyball became the sport she loved the most. Growing up in a sports oriented family with father who was a volleyball Olympian and mom a ranked tennis player, they both gave her sound advice. Her father admonished her “to play for those who can’t play “ while her Mom insisted that “when it is no longer fun, don’t do it “.

A positional switch from outside hitter to setter under the tutelage of Olympian Debbie Green at Long Beach State plus the vacancy of two setters ahead of her not only brought her collegiate team an undefeated season and national championship but it served as a groundwork for her beach volleyball success over the next 13 years. She advises athletes pursuing success that they must be willing to put in the work when no one else is around. And no doubt that is what she and her beach partners did as she won on the pro circuit and qualified for the Olympics.

Misty shares with the audience the differences between hard floor and beach volleyball training and competition, and the excitement and challenges of three Olympics - each uniquely different. The beach team of Misty and Kerri Walsh Jennings won all three gold medals and has been tabbed the greatest beach team of all times. She reflects on why she and Kerri were such a great team including both possessing great drive; holding each other accountable; having energies that counterbalanced one another and could feed off of each other; great all around games individually; common goals, and each respecting the others differences.

Looking back, sport has taught Misty not to procrastinate, to be game ready, realize life is not a sprint but a process and journey, to be a better communicator, and to make sure that choices are aligned with goals. Misty has used those skills as a mother of three daughters, and as a community college coach and personal trainer. Misty describers herself as a competitor then and a person now and what is essential to become a champion.

Host: Chris Voelz
A co-production of WiSP Sports and the Collegiate Women's Sports Awards