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LONDON — Misty May-Treanor danced on the sand and then off it, taking a victory lap around the court before leaving Horse Guards Parade with Kerri Walsh Jennings as three-time Olympic beach volleyball gold medalists.

Walsh Jennings and May-Treanor extended their Olympic winning streak to 21 in a row — unbeaten in Athens, Beijing and now London — with a 21-16, 21-16 victory against Jennifer Kessy and April Ross on Wednesday night in an all-American championship game.

“We set the bar very high,” said May-Treanor, who has said she will retire. “We extended ourselves over that bar even higher.”

Even Ross and Kessy, who won a silver medal in their Olympic debut, have called their fellow Americans legends.

“They’re the best team of all time,” Kessy said.

Dominating the sport for three Olympics, Walsh Jennings and May-Treanor have won every match they’ve ever played at the Summer Games and lost just one of 43 sets.

“Kudos. Hats off to them,” Ross said. “That’s just ridiculous.”

Walsh Jennings and May-Treanor pulled away in the first set and were never threatened in the second, falling to their knees and hugging as Ross’ final serve went long on match point.

May-Treanor began doing a funky jig to rival the scantily clad cheerleaders who help bring the beach party atmosphere to the sold-out crowds in central London.

The winners then took the celebration to the stands, circling the temporary 15,000-seat stadium built on the household cavalry’s centuries-old parade grounds and high-fiving just about anyone holding an American flag.

They hugged on the podium after the gold medals were draped around their neck then shared one with their fellow Californians — first-time Olympians who helped give the United States its best women’s finish since beach volleyball was added to the Olympics in 1996.

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings have been partners on the sand for more than a decade, long before they each aquired a third name. To that end, they know each other really well. The two-time reigning Olympic champions spoke with us about guilty pleasures, hidden talents, and how they would make the royal guards in London laugh.

What is each other’s guilty pleasure?
MMT: I got mine.

KWJ: You know mine?

MMT: I would have to say Kerri’s guilty pleasures are chocolate, one, and shopping, number two.

KWJ: That’s good. Right on. (For Misty) I would say lattes. Oooh, prime rib?

MMT: Yeah.

KWJ: And sleeping in?

MMT: Come on, that’s it.

What is each other’s nicknames?
KWJ: Oh, she’s the Turtle. That’s an easy one.

MMT: Six Feet of Sunshine.

Why is she the Turtle?
KWJ: It’s sarcastic, but appropriate. Misty obviously is not slow; she’s anything but slow. However, sometimes she retreats into her shell only to pop out and get you. So, she’s a turtle. My husband gave her the nickname. It’s quite appropriate.

MMT: It’s stuck with me.

What are each other’s hidden talents?
MMT: Kerri’s hidden talent? She reads books a million miles a minute. I get envious. She can, like, cruise through books like no other. I don’t know if that’s a hidden talent, but she has sheer determination. No matter what she does. Once she starts something, got to finish it.

KWJ: Thank you. I would say — gosh — she’s a woman of so many talents. She’s a great dancer, which the world knows, but it’s kind of a hidden talent. I’ve heard she’s a good cook. She hasn’t invited me over.

It’s a big thing in London to try and make the royal guards laugh. How would you do it?
MMT: Funny you should say that, we were talking about this. I have a perfect (Saturday Night Live) skit for that, if I’m on (the show). There’s a build-up, but I would try to make them laugh. They may get fired. It’s not my job. My job is to make them laugh.

So what would you do?
MMT: I can’t (tell you). That’s part of my skit. Get me on SNL and I’ll show you what I’ll do.

KWJ: It’ll be worth the wait.

MMT: We could always walk by in our bikinis. Are their eyes allowed to move?

KWJ: That will make them smile.

What were you two like as kids? Were you were beach rats?
KWJ: I was just a rat. I don’t know, I wasn’t necessarily a beach rat. I lived in the woods. I had an older brother who I’d tag along with and played every single sport with — basketball, baseball, soccer. My parents were my coaches. I have two little sisters, and we just all palled around, you know? We were out running around all day and just having a good time. I was always a dirty, really happy kid, because I was able to let loose and have a good time.

MMT: I think for myself, there wasn’t an hour in the day that I wasn’t playing some type of sport. But both my parents played beach volleyball, so I was down at the beach at eight in the morning. We wouldn’t leave until seven p.m., until the sun went down. Lunch is served in the sand. You’re taking sand home with you. I’m sure when I was a kid, diapers full of sand, you know? Especially when you live that close to the coast, it’s a lifestyle. Healthy one, and I love it.

KWJ: It’s paid off.

What has been each of your best moments so far in life?
KWJ: What a question! My best moment in life, so far, has been the birth of my two children. I’ve lived such a blessed life. I’ve had so many fun experiences on the volleyball court, off the volleyball court, but having my children just made my whole life. It’s so special. It’s so wonderful. And it makes me want to kick butt even more in my career.

MMT: My best moments in life have been winning the two gold medals, and being able to share that with the world, with the young girls that are going to fill our places when we’re done playing. But being able to share that with friends and family, and being able to accomplish something that we put our minds to and that we had full control over — that’s been the greatest accomplishment.