In early July of 2015, when Kerri Walsh Jennings fell to the sand after suffering her second shoulder dislocation in the span of a few months, the odds of the three-time Olympic gold medalist and her partner April Ross taking the sand in Rio didn’t look good. 

But what the doubters may not have realized is that Walsh Jennings is basically superhuman. The mother of three has had five shoulder surgeries, bouncing back with impossible speed after each pregnancy or surgery.

Eight months after this most recent surgical procedure, Walsh Jennings and Ross have officially qualified for the 2016 Olympics. Their participation in this week’s FIVB Cincinnati Open brings their number of tournaments played within the Olympic qualification period to the magic number of 12, and at No. 6 in the FIVB Provisional Olympic Ranking, they are well within the required range of the top 15. 

Walsh Jennings won three Olympic gold medals with former partner Misty May Treanor. She and Ross formed their partnership in 2013 with gold in Rio being the ultimate goal. They’ve cleared the qualification hurdle, now they’ just have to stay healthy and playing in top form through the end of August in hopes of standing atop the podium on Copacabana Beach.