Defending champions Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh of the United States captured the Beijing Olympic beach volleyball gold medal on Thursday.

The American pair defeated China's Tian Jia and Wang Jie 21-17 and 21-18, and the Chinese duo got the silver medals.

The two sides traded points in the first set to 17-17 before the U.S. duo reap four points in a row to win the first set 21-17.