Individually, Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes are brilliant players in their own rights. But together, they are an unstoppable force to be reckoned with! Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes achieved a career-high world ranking of number 2 as teammates in August 2023. Cheng, aged 28, and Hughes, aged 29, are American beach volleyball players. They first partnered as juniors and went on to win U19 and U21 World Championships.

Continuing their partnership in college, they won approximately 103 matches consecutively. After splitting up in 2018, they reunited in 2022, giving fans hope for their future together. However, it seems not all good things are meant to last forever.

People meant to be with each other cannot stay apart forever, and that seemed to hold true for Kelly and Sara. Born in the same year, they were nicknamed ‘Cardinal and Gold’ (owing to their hair colors) in college. Together, they won several competitions and NCAA titles. Although they fell apart in 2018 due to personal differences, their story was far from over.

After four years of playing with different partners, they decided to collaborate once again in 2022 and continued their winning streak. Qualifying for the Paris Olympics by winning the title in Mexico showcased the fruits of their partnership and evident chemistry.

“We have really good chemistry. Our styles of play complement each other really well,” Cheng told Olympics.com. “We’re both at the same stages of life and on the same page with a lot of things. And I think that’s just helped us fight hard together and fight for each other on and off the court.” All seemed to be going well once again for the duo, until the quarterfinals in Paris Olympics.

Doubts raised on Cheng-Hughes partnership

While the United States is known for its supremacy in women’s beach volleyball, it failed to live up to its reputation in the Paris Olympics. Though the US has four gold medalists in the previous five Olympics, no American woman could make it past the quarterfinals this time around. Yes, Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes lost 2-0 to Switzerland’s Tanja Hueberli and Nina Brunner on Tuesday. With scores of 21-18 and 21-19, all hopes of an Olympic Gold were dashed. “I so appreciate and I’ve loved to see the legacy of the United States and beach volleyball, and would have loved to continue that legacy,” Cheng lamented “It wasn’t our time.” 

This loss is upsetting not just for the U.S., but it is also bound to have further implications for the partnership between Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes. After splitting up due to certain differences, they had decided to team up again, hoping for an Olympic medal. However, after this dream-crushing loss, there seems to be trouble in paradise once again. Rumors are rife that the players will once again go their separate ways. As to what actually happens, only time will tell.