Being a mom can often feel like being a professional athlete. From the physical demands to the mental load, just getting through the day can almost feel like winning a gold medal. But few people take it all in stride better than Kerri Walsh Jennings. The Olympic gold medalist isn’t just an elite athlete and mom—she’s also an entrepreneur with the launch of Hero Volleyball, which is returning to the Hamptons this summer
The multi-day event, which takes place from July 28 to July 30, brings together the world’s top professional athletes, rising talent, local legends, and culture-shaping communities for unforgettable events inspired by a shared love of the game. Best of all, a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Hampton Lifeguard Association, supporting the local heroes of beach safety and water safety initiatives
Read on for Jennings’ take on motherhood, maintaining an elite athlete’s mindset, her current fitness obsessions, and what she’s most excited about this summer in the Hamptons
You’re bringing Hero Volley back to the Hamptons this summer. What inspired you to host the event there?
Kerri Walsh Jennings: Oh my gosh—it’s honestly a dream come true. When I first came to Montauk, I felt like I was walking into a movie. I’d never really experienced East Coast beach culture before, and it completely blew my mind
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I love that it’s a combination of my favorite things—you have the rolling hills and farms, the beach, beautiful architecture, and amazing people. The whole idea behind Hero Volley was to bring the sport that’s given me such a beautiful life to a community that doesn’t have a lot of professional beach volleyball
What’s been really fun is discovering that Montauk actually has a rich beach volleyball culture already. As someone from the West Coast, we always think the East Coast is so sophisticated, but it was really cool to see everyone embrace that laid-back West Coast beach vibe, too
Do you have any favorite spots in Montauk?
Kerri Walsh Jennings: Hero Beach Club is definitely home base for us. I absolutely love it there. I also love walking into downtown Montauk and exploring all the little shops
Last summer, my oldest son introduced me to a couple of vintage stores that I completely fell in love with. Montauk Brewing was another favorite—we’d meet there with our team. Gurney’s was incredible, too. I taught a fitness class on the rooftop, and it’s just stunning
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One thing I really appreciate is that Montauk has everything. You have beautiful luxury hotels like Gurney’s, but you also have these unique, independent places like Hero Beach Club. There’s something for everyone
As a former Olympic athlete, what does your everyday wellness routine look like now?
Kerri Walsh Jennings: At this point, it’s really more of a lifestyle than a routine because it’s just embedded into my everyday life
Sleep is probably my biggest wellness hack. It’s non-negotiable for me. My goal is to be in bed by 10 p.m. because I know I’ll get deeper, more restorative sleep and wake up feeling so much better
In the mornings, I’ve been starting my day with lemon water, and my body has really been appreciating it. I think it helps reduce puffiness and gets everything moving
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I’m 6-foot-2, so while I love lifting weights three or four times a week and building strength, I also think it’s equally important to stay long and mobile. I’ve been doing Lagree Pilates, at-home Pilates, a lot of soft tissue work using a foam roller, lacrosse ball, or softball, and use Firefly Recovery to boost circulation and ease soreness.
I want my muscles to be strong, but I also want them to stay supple so I can actually move well.
You’ve recently started Lagree Pilates. What do you think of it?
Kerri Walsh Jennings: It’s the most humbling workout I’ve ever done
I’m 6-foot-2, I weigh over 165 pounds, and that’s a lot of body to move around on those machines. It’s definitely challenged me in a whole new way
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The funny thing is that I always want to cheer everyone else on during class. I’m thinking, “Why aren’t we all high-fiving each other?” But everyone’s so focused on surviving the workout!
You’re passionate about helping people avoid burnout through your P3 Method. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
Kerri Walsh Jennings: First, I think it’s important to acknowledge that life is going to be hard
Being a mom is hard. Being a working mom is hard. Pursuing something meaningful is hard. Once I accepted that, it became so much easier because I wasn’t expecting everything to feel easy
I’m choosing this life. I’m not a victim
For me, it’s about being really intentional with the things I can control—my sleep, how much time I spend on my phone, the food I eat, who I spend time with, and making sure I have quiet moments in my day
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When I consistently take care of those things, the hard parts of life don’t disappear, but they become much more manageable
How do you balance prioritizing your health while raising kids?
Kerri Walsh Jennings: You model it
When your kids are little, you explain it in simple terms: “Mommy’s going to take care of herself because Mommy wants to be strong. Mommy wants to be able to throw you in the air.”
As they get older, they pay attention to what you actually do—not what you say
If I’m telling my kids to prioritize their health but I’m not doing it myself, they’ll call me out on it
I think less talking and more doing is the key. Your example speaks much louder than your words
What’s one piece of advice you’d give moms who are trying to take care of themselves without feeling guilty?
Kerri Walsh Jennings: Slow down
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There’s this arbitrary sense of urgency that we all live with, but we don’t need to sprint through life
I recently heard someone say, “The tortoise always wins the race,” and I thought, that’s exactly right
We don’t need to rush everything. Let kids be kids. Let yourself move at a pace that’s sustainable. That’s where real resilience comes from
You’re also helping launch a Major League Volleyball franchise in Northern California. Why is that so meaningful to you?
Kerri Walsh Jennings: It’s incredibly special because indoor volleyball is where my career started
Our ownership group is amazing, and I’m so excited to help build something that gives young athletes another level to aspire to
When I was 10 years old, I was a ball girl at Stanford University. Watching those athletes completely changed my life. I knew right then that I wanted to play there someday
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Now, having professional volleyball in Northern California gives today’s young players their own North Star. That’s what excites me the most—creating opportunities and showing kids what’s possible
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