Gold medalist Walsh pregnant again

Kerri Walsh amazed mothers everywhere in August when she stepped back into a bikini and competed on the AVP Tour just more than two months after giving birth to her first child. She'll impress many more if she can do it again.

She'll have a chance again this summer because she's almost four months pregnant with her second child, Walsh told UniversalSports.com on Friday.

"I'm pregnant again so I'm taking the year off and Misty is going to be playing with a different partner," the 31-year-old said, adding, "My due date is May 30, so end of May I'll be taking care of my family and starting to creep back into shape and I'll be ready for the 2011 season. My hope and my plan is for Misty and I to get back together and be better than ever."

Until now it wasn't even clear if her longtime partner, Misty May-Treanor, would be back on the beach volleyball scene full-time in 2010. But not only has she recovered from an Achilles injury that stole her 2009 season, she will play with someone other than Walsh for the first time since 2001.

Who that person will be is now the big question. Walsh knows, but is not revealing who. May-Treanor could not be reached for comment.

"I'm definitely a little jealous but I'm really excited for her," Walsh said. "I know she's going to kick butt and it'll be a great team to root for. And also be motivating because I want my partner back."

A logical choice for the 32-year-old May-Treanor would be Nicole Branagh, a 2008 Olympian who was named the AVP's MVP and best offensive player this past season. Since 2006, Branagh, 30, has partnered with Elaine Youngs, who is 39 and nearly retired from international play after the Beijing Olympics. Branagh and Youngs were the top AVP team in 2009, winning a career-high nine events.

A large reason they thrived was because May-Treanor and Walsh were not playing. Walsh returned in August with Rachel Wacholder, another new mom, but the duo could place no higher than third. Walsh's best result of the season was in the AVP finale in Arizona, the only event in which May-Treanor appeared all season. They took second in a competition featuring only the top American and Brazilian tandems.

After going months without practicing together, that performance went a long way to show how strong the May-Treanor/Walsh partnership is. And Walsh made it clear that they plan to be back together again.

"The goal is to play together and win in 2012, to win an Olympic gold medal," Walsh said.

Though Walsh, who is married to fellow AVP star Casey Jennings, says she's aiming to be back for the 2011 season, few would be surprised to see her sooner. She gave birth to a son, Joseph Michael, on May 22 and was back on the court in early August. Walsh says she's itching to play again right now.

"Part of the challenge of coming back this year was to make sure that I could do it and I did physically. And once I can wrap my head around it mentally then I know I'll be a better player than ever before," Walsh said.