Retired Misty May-Treanor reflects on Olympic career ahead of Rio

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings have won gold in women's beach volleyball at the past three Olympics, but the U.S. team will not be able to count on the dynamic duo at Rio 2016.

After retiring following the 2012 games in London, May-Treanor will sit out the Olympics for the first time since 1996, and in the lead up to the 2016 Games she reflected on missing the competition for the first time in 16 years.

"Haven't been a spectator since 1996, feeling strange is an understatement," May-Treanor wrote in a Facebook post on Friday. "All the posts are bringing back such wonderful memories and I think after all these years it is finally hitting me of our accomplishments and what an amazing career we had together.

"When you're in it, you don't take the time to reflect because you are always on to the next thing," she continued. "Being an Olympic athlete is so special and representing your country is amazing. Hard to believe it won't ever happen again, but very fortunate enough to have done it more than once."

May-Treanor is the most successful women's beach volleyball player of all time, with 112 individual championship wins over her career. Her long-time partner Walsh Jennings will team with April Ross in Rio in an effort to keep the American's streak alive.