Dancing with the Stars 2008: Misty May-Treanor

Misty May-Treanor and her partner Kerri Walsh won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, becoming the first team ever to become back to back champs in beach volleyball. Not only was this their second gold medal, but their 108'Th win in a row! Only a few days after returning from Beijing, Misty May-Treanor and her new partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy started training, not for volleyball, but for Dancing with the stars! So what led Misty to Dancing with the Stars?

Misty May-Treanor states that she's always been a fan of Dancing with the Stars, and has watched it since its first season. She always imagined how exciting it would be to compete on the show, but never expected her daydream to become reality.

She interviewed with the producers, but didn't know what to expect. It wasn't until she arrived at Beijing that she received the amazing news. She would be competing in the upcoming season!

What is it like to make the adjustment from Olympic athlete to Dancing with the stars?

You would expect a gold medal athlete just returning from Beijing to breeze through the rigorous training and rehearsing required for the Dancing with the Stars contestants, but Misty explains that this isn't the case. "I'm using muscles I don't use on the volleyball court," Misty states after being asked how the constant dancing was affecting her. "The balls of my feet especially hurt because I'm not used to wearing heels. " Misty admits that even she didn't expect the training to affect her.

Even though she's feeling the strain of six hours of dancing daily, Misty feels her athleticism is an advantage. She feels that being an athlete will help her keep her focus and help her give 100% on the dance floor.

An issue many female contestants run across is becoming comfortable on stage wearing such small outfits. Lucky for Misty, this doesn't quite apply to her. Misty shares that when asked by wardrobe if she had any concerns, she answered no. She replied that anything they can make for her is more than she wears at work.

What has been the most challenging part of being a contestant on Dancing with the Stars?

When asked what the hardest part about being on the show has been, Misty answers that keeping her posture and grace during dance has been the most challenging. "You start thinking so much about your feet, that the top half of you-you forget about, and then if you're thinking about that, your feet go."

Misty May-Treanor's Expectations for the Season

Misty's plan is to take the season day by day, to have fun, to do her best, and to entertain the crowd. Misty like any other contestant is going to fight to dance in the finals, but right now she explains, she's only focusing on surviving each week.

From the Olympics to Dancing with the stars, Misty May-Treanor brings the excitement. Find her and her partner each week sweeping the stage.