BEIJING -- Defending Olympic champions Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor of the United States will play for another gold medal, advancing to the beach volleyball championship game with a straight-sets victory against Brazil.
The Americans beat Renata and Talita 21-12, 21-14 for their 107th consecutive victory on Tuesday, clinching at least a silver medal. The United States has now reached the podium in all four Olympic tournaments since beach volleyball was added to the games in 1996.
"We're not done. We are absolutely not done," Walsh said. "We came here to win."
Walsh and May-Treanor will play top-seeded Tian Jia and Wang Jie, who beat another Chinese team 22-24, 29-27, 15-8 in the other semifinal. "We know, definitely, the crowd will be with us," May-Treanor joked.
Xue Chen and Zhang Xi will play Talita and Renata for third place.
"I think their destiny is the bronze," May-Treanor said, predicting a Brazilian victory. "I told them, 'I'm going to see you up on the podium,' and we'll be sitting side-by-side again."
Just as she did four years ago, May-Treanor sprinkled some of her mother's ashes on the sand before the semifinal, saving another half-portion for a similar ceremony at the gold medal game.
"You can't leave home without her," May-Treanor said, tapping the plastic film canister she used to carry Barbara May's remains. "But she'll stay here."
