Laura Ludwig
FILE - In this June 18, 2021, file photo, Ryan Crouser competes during the prelims of men's shot put at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Ore. A simple question of describing their track and field craft led to some creative comparisons that might help the casual track fan better understand precisely what they do at the Tokyo Games. Shot put world record holder Crouser summarized what he does for a living with an illustration. He said his event was the equivalent of picking up the heaviest bowling ball and trying to throw it the length of a basketball court. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
World record may be broken in shot put on Day 12 of Olympics

By Jenna Fryer Aug. 03, 2021 12:01 PM EDT

Anouk Verge-Depre, right, of Switzerland, and teammate Joana Heidrich celebrate winning a women's beach volleyball match against Brazil at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Third-timer, Old-timer: Ross still strong on Olympic beach

By Jimmy Golen Aug. 02, 2021 11:13 PM EDT

Daiki Hashimoto, of Japan, performs on the horizontal bar during the artistic gymnastics men's apparatus final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Olympics Latest: Women's semifinals set in beach volleyball

Aug. 02, 2021 08:59 PM EDT

United States players embrace after being defeated 1-0 by Canada during a women's semifinal soccer match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Kashima, Japan. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
US women lose in soccer, win in volleyball, basketball

By Josh Dubow Aug. 02, 2021 07:37 AM EDT

Alix Klineman, of the United States, reacts to a play during a women's beach volleyball match against Cuba at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Ross, Klineman advance to face reigning beach queen Ludwig

By Jimmy Golen Aug. 01, 2021 10:48 PM EDT

Kelly Claes, left, of the United States, reaches for the ball as Tina Graudina, of Latvia, defends during a women's beach volleyball match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 26, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Olympic beach volleyball puts college stars on display

By Jimmy Golen Jul. 25, 2021 10:53 PM EDT

Margareta Kozuch, of Germany, right, and teammate Laura Ludwig react during a women's beach volleyball match against Switzerland at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Canceled party: Scrubbed match silences Olympic beach venue

By Jimmy Golen Jul. 24, 2021 12:56 AM EDT

This Aug. 2, 2020, photo provided by the Association of Volleyball Professionals shows Alix Klineman, left, and April Ross, far right, during a match against Kelly Claes, foreground, and Sarah Sponcil, not shown, at the AVP Champions Cup in Long Beach, Calif. Ross was 24 years old when she first started playing beach volleyball, the sport that would eventually send her to four Olympics. At that age, Sponcil is already headed to the Summer Games. Sponcil and her 25-year-old partner, Claes, are the first generation to come up through an NCAA beach volleyball program that didn’t exist until 2012 — long after Ross graduated from Southern California. They are the youngest U.S. beach team ever to qualify for the Olympics. (Robert Beck/AVP via AP)
For new generation of Olympians, path was through NCAA beach

By Jimmy Golen Jul. 11, 2021 11:39 AM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 15, 2016, file photo, United States' Kerri Walsh Jennings awaits a serve against Australia during a women's beach volleyball quarterfinal match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The three-time beach volleyball gold medalist was defeated in her bid to reach a sixth Olympics when she and partner Brooke Sweat lost in a qualifying match on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 in Ostrava, Czech Republic (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
With Walsh Jennings out, new generation hits the beach

By Jimmy Golen Jul. 01, 2021 01:37 PM EDT

Old names, new teams highlight Tokyo beach volleyball field

By The Associated Press Jul. 01, 2021 01:01 PM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — HIGHLIGHTS FROM RIO: When Germans Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst took gold in 2016, they had to ask the bronze medal-winner what to do on the...