Olympian Kerri Walsh Jennings on What it Actually Takes to Reach the Highest Level

Olympian Kerri Walsh Jennings on What it Actually Takes to Reach the Highest Level

From Youth Inc. with Greg Olsen by Youth Inc.

March 17, 2026 · 26 min · Season 4 · Episode 27

About this episode

Kerri Walsh Jennings discusses her journey as a top beach volleyball player and the challenges of youth sports today.

Kerri Walsh Jennings is the most decorated beach volleyball player in history. Three Olympic gold medals, a decade alongside Misty May-Treanor, and a competitive fire she'll be the first to tell you made her insecure. In this episode, digital host Shelby Bumgarner sits down with Kerri to trace the full arc: a childhood in the Santa Cruz mountains, a multi-sport path that built grit before it built greatness, and the fundamentals-obsessed coaches who shaped everything that followed. They get into what it really took to build one of the greatest partnerships in sports history, what it felt like to compete on the Olympic stage while pregnant, and what Kerri sees now as a parent and club founder that has her worried about where youth sports is heading.Sign up for our newsletter at https://www.youth.inc/newsletterFor more, visit https://www.youth.inc/

People in this episode

Host: Shelby Bumgarner

Guest: Kerri Walsh Jennings

Topics covered

  • beach volleyball
  • Olympics
  • youth sports
  • athlete development
  • partnerships in sports

Keywords

  • Kerri Walsh Jennings
  • beach volleyball
  • Olympic gold medals
  • youth sports
  • athlete partnerships

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Youth Inc.

Places: Santa Cruz mountains

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