Olympian dispenses gold medal advice in Va. Beach

By Liz King

VIRGINIA BEACH

After three hours of running, exercises and drills, the young athletes at last week’s volleyball clinic at the Virginia Beach Field House were smiling ear to ear.

It was hard for them not to grin as they posed for pictures with that night’s coach – two-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh. And, they got to wear her medal.

As part of her tour with Invincible Volleyball, Walsh held a three-hour clinic Jan. 19 for more than 100 boys and girls, from pint-sized newbies to varsity athletes. Helping Walsh were 24 Virginia Beach Volleyball Academy coaches and staff members.

“It’s really special,” Walsh said of working with the students. “It’s humbling. In a lot of ways, I still feel like one of them.”

Walsh, 33, captured gold with Misty May-Treanor in beach volleyball at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, and again in 2008 in Beijing, China.

Walsh and husband and fellow pro-beach volleyball player, Casey Jennings, have been touring with Invincible Volleyball since November. The nine-city tour wrapped up last week in Mobile, Ala.

“We’re having so much fun,” Walsh said. “It’s cool seeing the state of volleyball around the country.”

Mike Roberts, director of Virginia Beach Volleyball Academy, said the goal of the clinic was to build the sport in this area, and motivate the athletes.

Tonya Boser coaches the academy’s “Beach Elite” Junior Olympics team.

The experience with Walsh will really hit home when students see a familiar face while watching this summer’s Olympics in London, where Walsh and May-Treanor will be competing for their third medal, Boser said.

“When I found out she was coming, I think I was more excited than the kids,” she said.

Though Walsh has been busy training, she makes sure to carve out time to inspire young athletes across the country through her clinics, which focus on the fundamentals.

“You need a strong foundation,” Walsh said. “Michael Jordan didn’t just start off slam-dunking and doing tricks.”

Throughout the clinic, Walsh zigzagged between courts, giving pointers to students and shouting out new tasks.

“I’ve already learned a lot,” said 16-year-old Chi Chi Osuchukwu, who hopes to play in college. “I have a lot more to learn, and I’m going to keep working hard.”

Another aspect of the clinics is getting kids to focus on their mindset, Walsh said.

“I learned life’s most important lessons through this sport,” Walsh said. “Being frustrated is part of the game – you need to be able to push through it.”

Ninth-grader Kayla Nugent has been playing since fifth grade, and the Invincible Volleyball Clinic had the 14-year-old aiming high.

“I want to be able to follow in her footsteps,” Nugent said of Walsh.

Walsh, who also started playing in fifth grade, doesn’t doubt any one of the clinic’s attendees could win gold one day.

“If you’re in this game, it’s because you love it,” Walsh said. “Dream big, and chase those dreams.”