USA Volleyball Star Makes Comment about "Having Babies" That's Pretty Ballsy in This Day and Age
by Virginia Kruta August 7, 2016, 12:35 pm 34.5k Views 9 Votes
Four years ago, when her feet hit the sand for her third gold medal beach volleyball match in London, Kerri Walsh Jennings knew she was pregnant. She and her long-time teammate Misty May-Treanor battled to gold anyway, defeating another American duo in the final.
In Rio, Brazil, Walsh Jennings returned with new teammate April Ross (one-half of the 2012 silver-medal pair that Walsh Jennings and May-Treanor bested in London).
She says that her inspiration is her family, at home watching and waiting for her to come home with gold:
"Before I had more kids, I was like, this feels trivial. I'd been playing for so long, and I was like I need balance. All my eggs are in this one basket and it's very self-centered and self-focused.
They gave me that perspective and balance I thought I was missing. It took my game and my desire and my passion for life to the next level. I am hugely indebted to my children."
And in a pre-game interview with NBC, Walsh Jennings doubled down, saying that family wasn't just her support system — it was a reason for living in itself:
Kerri Walsh Jennings (@kerrileewalsh) was pregnant with daughter Scout last Olympics: "She knows she's golden."https://t.co/DuxIyrkmWy
— ThePostGame (@ThePostGame) March 22, 2016
She also added the following comment that struck a few nerves:
"I feel like I was born to have babies and play volleyball."
There were those who took issue with her comments — and with NBC for running them:
Did you just see the piece about Kerri Walsh Jennings? "I was born to have babies…" What is @nbc doing to us?!
— Paula Dixon (@PeoplePaula) August 7, 2016
@nbc And now a package about Kerri Walsh Jennings: "I was born to have babies." Is Donald Trump running the network now? Get it together.
But most just found it impressive that Walsh Jennings was able to perform at such a high level while pregnant in the first place:
Volleyballer Kerri Walsh Jennings pregnant at Olympics – And the award for the toughest athlete in London goes to… http://t.co/pIC64nbr
— GoSwim.tv (@goswim) September 25, 2012
Kerri Walsh Jennings was 5 weeks pregnant when she won her 3rd gold medal at the 2012 olympics. What's your excuse? pic.twitter.com/b5B7owuN
— Angela Stypula (@styps) September 27, 2012
Kerri Walsh Jennings was 11 weeks pregnant when she won the Olympics? I'm pretty sure I was face down in a Taco 12-Pack at that point.
— Anne Riley (@AnneRiley) March 6, 2013
And a few thought her comment just proved she was as tough as nails:
Kerri Walsh-Jennings: "I was born to have babies and play volleyball." @MellowFraniello: "…and I'm all out of babies."
— Anneka Gerhardt (@AnnekaGerhardt) August 7, 2016
"I was born to have babies and play volleyball." – Kerri Walsh Jennings with the most hardcore quote I've ever heard. #Olympics
— Tyler Nunez (@ByTylerNunez) August 7, 2016
Olympic line of the nite by Kerri Walsh-Jennings: "I was born to have babies and play volleyball" #GoTeamUSA #Olympics2016
— Siddhartha Goyal (@Sgoyal77) August 7, 2016
Walsh Jennings and Ross won their first match against Australia straight sets on Saturday night.
Walsh Jennings says she's not finished – with her career or her family: "I'd love to win a fourth gold medal. I'd love to have a fourth baby."
All the Critics Who Bashed "Hillary's America" Documentary Might Want To See This Fact…
Everyone's Talking About What NBC Did Before Gold Medal Winning Swimmer Was Even Out of the Water
'You're Out of Order': Dem Gets Called Out for Reading Letter Attacking Trump Supporters as 'Dumb,' 'Racist'
Kennedy Blasts AOC and Her Squad as Being the 'Reason There are Directions' on Shampoo Bottles