Kerri Walsh Jennings aiming for Rio after shoulder surgery

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 8:24 p.m. ET

foxsports

NEW YORK (AP) Kerri Walsh Jennings says she's pain-free after testing her surgically-repaired shoulder during two weeks of beach volleyball matches in Brazil.

The three-time Olympic gold medalist played her first matches after a six-month layoff following surgery on a torn labrum and capsule. She's aiming to qualify for the Rio Olympics with teammate April Ross and earn a fourth gold.

Walsh Jennings says there's ''no pain and I just need to keep getting stronger. I feel very confident we'll qualify and win.''

They recently won the Rio Grand Slam in Copacabana, the site of the Olympic venue this summer, before losing to the No. 1 Brazilian team last weekend.

Walsh Jennings had shoulder surgery several months before her past two Olympics and won gold with partner Misty May-Treanor.