| | Event type
Beach Volleyball, Women
| Date | 14 – 25 August 2004 | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Olympic | |
| Location | Olympiaki Engatastasi Bits Volei, Olympiako Syngrotima Papaliakis Zonis Falirou, Faliro | |
| Participants | 48 from 17 countries | |
| Format | Top 16 teams from round-robin pools advanced to the single-elimination tournament. | |
In 2000, American Misty May competed at the Olympics with Holly McPeak, finishing in joint fifth place. In 2001, May joined up with Kerri Walsh, and they became the dominant team on the beach. In 2002, they were ranked first in the world and in 2003, they went undefeated, winning 39 consecutive matches, including the 2003 World Championships. Coming into Athina, they were heavily favored to win the gold medal. They continued that streak until shortly before the Olympics when they lost to Annett Davis and Jenny Johnson-Jordan. But with all Olympic matches now best of three sets, there were no upsets in Athina. May and Walsh won easily, never losing a set. In the final they faced the Brazilian pair Adriana Behar and Shelda, who they had supplanted as the dominant pair on the beach. The first set was fairly close at 21-17, but May/Walsh put the hammer down in the second set, winning 21-11.
Preliminary Round (14 – 19 August 2004)
Group A (15 – 19 August 2004)
| Pos | Competitor(s) | NOC | Wins | Losses | Points | Sets For | SA | Points For | PA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States 1 |  USA | 3 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 126 | 83 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Czech Republic |  CZE | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 120 | 110 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Japan |  JPN | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 109 | 137 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Netherlands |  NED | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 110 | 135 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Match #1 | Eva Celbová / Soňa Nováková | CZE | 2 – 0 21-19, 21-16 | Rebekka Kadijk / Marrit Leenstra | NED |
| Match #2 | Kerri Walsh / Misty May | USA | 2 – 0 21-9, 21-16 | Chiaki Kusuhara / Ryo Tokuno | JPN |
| Match #3 | Eva Celbová / Soňa Nováková | CZE | 2 – 0 23-21, 21-12 | Chiaki Kusuhara / Ryo Tokuno | JPN |
| Match #4 | Kerri Walsh / Misty May | USA | 2 – 0 21-11, 21-13 | Rebekka Kadijk / Marrit Leenstra | NED |
| Match #5 | Chiaki Kusuhara / Ryo Tokuno | JPN | 2 – 1 15-21, 21-17, 15-13 | Rebekka Kadijk / Marrit Leenstra | NED |
| Match #6 | Kerri Walsh / Misty May | USA | 2 – 0 21-17, 21-17 | Eva Celbová / Soňa Nováková | CZE |
Group B (15 – 19 August 2004)
| Pos | Competitor(s) | NOC | Wins | Losses | Points | Sets For | SA | Points For | PA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil 1 |  BRA | 3 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 126 | 84 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Cuba |  CUB | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 129 | 125 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Italy |  ITA | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 124 | 128 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | South Africa |  RSA | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 84 | 126 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Match #1 | Dalixia Fernández / Tamara Larrea | CUB | 2 – 1 21-17, 18-21, 15-10 | Daniela Gattelli / Lucilla Perrotta | ITA |
| Match #2 | Adriana Behar / Shelda | BRA | 2 – 0 21-7, 21-10 | Leigh-Ann Naidoo / Julia Willand | RSA |
| Match #3 | Dalixia Fernández / Tamara Larrea | CUB | 2 – 0 21-19, 21-16 | Leigh-Ann Naidoo / Julia Willand | RSA |
| Match #4 | Adriana Behar / Shelda | BRA | 2 – 0 21-17, 21-17 | Daniela Gattelli / Lucilla Perrotta | ITA |
| Match #5 | Daniela Gattelli / Lucilla Perrotta | ITA | 2 – 0 21-18, 21-14 | Leigh-Ann Naidoo / Julia Willand | RSA |
| Match #6 | Adriana Behar / Shelda | BRA | 2 – 0 21-14, 21-19 | Dalixia Fernández / Tamara Larrea | CUB |
Group C (15 – 19 August 2004)
| Pos | Competitor(s) | NOC | Wins | Losses | Points | Sets For | SA | Points For | PA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany 1 |  GER | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 156 | 143 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Brazil 2 | BRA | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 131 | 118 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Greece 1 |  GRE | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 131 | 140 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Norway 1 |  NOR | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 132 | 149 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Match #1 | Ana Paula / Sandra Pires | BRA | 2 – 0 21-18, 21-19 | Nila Håkedal / Ingrid Tørlen | NOR |
| Match #2 | Susanne Lahme / Danja Müsch | GER | 2 – 1 21-16, 16-21, 15-10 | Thaleia Koutroumanidou / Viky Arvaniti | GRE |
| Match #3 | Ana Paula / Sandra Pires | BRA | 2 – 0 21-13, 21-14 | Thaleia Koutroumanidou / Viky Arvaniti | GRE |
| Match #4 | Nila Håkedal / Ingrid Tørlen | NOR | 2 – 1 13-21, 21-17, 15-12 | Susanne Lahme / Danja Müsch | GER |
| Match #5 | Susanne Lahme / Danja Müsch | GER | 2 – 1 18-21, 21-15, 15-11 | Ana Paula / Sandra Pires | BRA |
| Match #6 | Thaleia Koutroumanidou / Viky Arvaniti | GRE | 2 – 1 21-11, 21-23, 15-12 | Nila Håkedal / Ingrid Tørlen | NOR |
Group D (14 – 18 August 2004)
| Pos | Competitor(s) | NOC | Wins | Losses | Points | Sets For | SA | Points For | PA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States 2 | USA | 3 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 148 | 124 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Canada |  CAN | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 135 | 123 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Norway 2 | NOR | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 127 | 144 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Switzerland |  SUI | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 134 | 153 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Match #1 | Guylaine Dumont / Annie Martin | CAN | 2 – 0 21-16, 21-13 | Simone Kuhn / Nicole Schnyder | SUI |
| Match #2 | Holly McPeak / Elaine Youngs | USA | 2 – 0 21-14, 21-14 | Kathrine Maaseide / Susanne Glesnes | NOR |
| Match #3 | Kathrine Maaseide / Susanne Glesnes | NOR | 2 – 1 21-18, 17-21, 15-13 | Simone Kuhn / Nicole Schnyder | SUI |
| Match #4 | Holly McPeak / Elaine Youngs | USA | 2 – 1 21-13, 12-21, 15-9 | Guylaine Dumont / Annie Martin | CAN |
| Match #5 | Guylaine Dumont / Annie Martin | CAN | 2 – 0 21-19, 29-27 | Kathrine Maaseide / Susanne Glesnes | NOR |
| Match #6 | Holly McPeak / Elaine Youngs | USA | 2 – 1 22-24, 21-17, 15-12 | Simone Kuhn / Nicole Schnyder | SUI |
Group E (14 – 18 August 2004)
| Pos | Competitor(s) | NOC | Wins | Losses | Points | Sets For | SA | Points For | PA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany 2 | GER | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 138 | 119 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Australia 1 |  AUS | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 127 | 126 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Bulgaria |  BUL | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 124 | 131 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | People's Republic of China 1 |  CHN | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 126 | 139 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Match #1 | Stephanie Pohl / Okka Rau | GER | 2 – 0 21-17, 21-18 | Wang Lu / You Wenhui | CHN |
| Match #2 | Natalie Cook / Nicole Sanderson | AUS | 2 – 0 21-16, 21-12 | Petya Yanchulova / Lina Yanchulova | BUL |
| Match #3 | Petya Yanchulova / Lina Yanchulova | BUL | 2 – 1 18-21, 21-19, 15-13 | Stephanie Pohl / Okka Rau | GER |
| Match #4 | Natalie Cook / Nicole Sanderson | AUS | 2 – 1 21-19, 17-21, 17-15 | Wang Lu / You Wenhui | CHN |
| Match #5 | Petya Yanchulova / Lina Yanchulova | BUL | 2 – 0 21-19, 21-17 | Wang Lu / You Wenhui | CHN |
| Match #6 | Stephanie Pohl / Okka Rau | GER | 2 – 0 21-10, 22-20 | Natalie Cook / Nicole Sanderson | AUS |
Group F (14 – 18 August 2004)
| Pos | Competitor(s) | NOC | Wins | Losses | Points | Sets For | SA | Points For | PA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia 2 | AUS | 3 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 142 | 130 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Greece 2 | GRE | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 134 | 113 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | People's Republic of China 2 | CHN | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 109 | 118 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Mexico |  MEX | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 108 | 132 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Match #1 | Summer Lochowicz / Kerri-Ann Pottharst | AUS | 2 – 0 21-18, 21-18 | Tian Jia / Wang Fei | CHN |
| Match #2 | Efi Sfyri / Vaso Karantasiou | GRE | 2 – 0 21-17, 21-13 | Mayra Aide García / Hilda Gaxiola | MEX |
| Match #3 | Tian Jia / Wang Fei | CHN | 2 – 0 21-19, 21-15 | Mayra Aide García / Hilda Gaxiola | MEX |
| Match #4 | Summer Lochowicz / Kerri-Ann Pottharst | AUS | 2 – 1 21-15, 15-21, 16-14 | Efi Sfyri / Vaso Karantasiou | GRE |
| Match #5 | Summer Lochowicz / Kerri-Ann Pottharst | AUS | 2 – 0 26-24, 22-20 | Mayra Aide García / Hilda Gaxiola | MEX |
| Match #6 | Efi Sfyri / Vaso Karantasiou | GRE | 2 – 0 21-14, 21-17 | Tian Jia / Wang Fei | CHN |
Round One (20 – 21 August 2004)
Winners of each match advanced to the quarter-finals.
| Match #1 | Kerri Walsh / Misty May | USA | 2 – 0 21-11, 21-18 | Tian Jia / Wang Fei | CHN |
| Match #2 | Guylaine Dumont / Annie Martin | CAN | 2 – 0 21-18, 21-19 | Dalixia Fernández / Tamara Larrea | CUB |
| Match #3 | Stephanie Pohl / Okka Rau | GER | 2 – 1 21-12, 19-21, 15-11 | Thaleia Koutroumanidou / Viky Arvaniti | GRE |
| Match #4 | Holly McPeak / Elaine Youngs | USA | 2 – 0 21-16, 21-16 | Eva Celbová / Soňa Nováková | CZE |
| Match #5 | Daniela Gattelli / Lucilla Perrotta | ITA | 2 – 1 16-21, 21-17, 21-19 | Susanne Lahme / Danja Müsch | GER |
| Match #6 | Natalie Cook / Nicole Sanderson | AUS | 2 – 0 21-15, 21-16 | Summer Lochowicz / Kerri-Ann Pottharst | AUS |
| Match #7 | Ana Paula / Sandra Pires | BRA | 2 – 0 21-16, 21-19 | Efi Sfyri / Vaso Karantasiou | GRE |
| Match #8 | Adriana Behar / Shelda | BRA | 2 – 1 18-21, 21-16, 15-11 | Petya Yanchulova / Lina Yanchulova | BUL |
Quarter-Finals (22 August 2004)
Winners of each match advanced to the semi-finals.
| Match #1 | Kerri Walsh / Misty May | USA | 2 – 0 21-19, 21-14 | Guylaine Dumont / Annie Martin | CAN |
| Match #2 | Holly McPeak / Elaine Youngs | USA | 2 – 0 21-17, 21-17 | Stephanie Pohl / Okka Rau | GER |
| Match #3 | Natalie Cook / Nicole Sanderson | AUS | 2 – 1 21-16, 14-21, 15-12 | Daniela Gattelli / Lucilla Perrotta | ITA |
| Match #4 | Adriana Behar / Shelda | BRA | 2 – 1 15-21, 21-13, 15-13 | Ana Paula / Sandra Pires | BRA |
Semi-Finals (23 August 2004)
Winners of each match advanced to the final match.
| Match #1 | Kerri Walsh / Misty May | USA | 2 – 0 21-18, 21-15 | Holly McPeak / Elaine Youngs | USA |
| Match #2 | Adriana Behar / Shelda | BRA | 2 – 0 21-17, 21-16 | Natalie Cook / Nicole Sanderson | AUS |
Final Round (24 August 2004)
| Match 1/2 | Kerri Walsh / Misty May | USA | 2 – 0 21-17, 21-11 | Adriana Behar / Shelda | BRA |
| Match 3/4 | Holly McPeak / Elaine Youngs | USA | 2 – 1 21-18, 15-21, 15-9 | Natalie Cook / Nicole Sanderson | AUS |