AP/Petr David Josek
Brazil's Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas de Freitas celebrate after defeating Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross.
Kerri Walsh Jennings had never lost an Olympic beach volleyball match - until last night.
Walsh Jennings and partner April Ross were defeated by Brazilian duo Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas in two sets in the women's beach volleyball semifinal in Rio.
"We could squash that team, and we have in the past," Walsh Jennings told ABC News after the stunning loss. "I say that with so much respect for them - they're very, very good. Tonight they rose to the occasion. I certainly did not and there is no excuse for it. It was just terrible execution."
AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez Walsh Jennings, left, and Ross react after their loss on Monday night.
Walsh Jennings was just 22 years old when she made her Olympic debut in Sydney as a member of the women's indoor volleyball team. Soon after, she transitioned to beach volleyball and teamed up with former partner Misty May-Treanor. The pair became a dominant force in the sport and went on to win gold medals in Athens, Beijing, and London without losing a single match.
Walsh Jennings and her current partner, Ross, were favored to win gold in Rio and looked strong in their preliminary matches. Even at 38 - an age when many Olympians retire - Walsh Jennings was still playing hard. She even made an incredible under-the-net save in a match against Australia.
Now, the American pair must fight for the bronze medal, facing off against a different Brazilian team on Wednesday night at 9 p.m.