The injury is healing nicely, though May-Treanor is only midway through a recovery process that could take a year. Right now, the sport's winningest player with 103 tournament victories is enjoying some rare downtime.

In addition to appearing recently at Disney on behalf of ESPN, she has been able to hang out with husband, Matt Treanor, a Detroit Tigers catcher training in Lakeland.

Meanwhile, she's not ruling out a return shot at "Dancing With the Stars" -- or a run at the 2012 Olympics. But May-Treanor says the London Games are too far down the road to contemplate.

Starting a family ranks as her top priority. The 5-foot-9 Coral Springs resident just wants to coach, stage clinics, perhaps get her master's degree (her bachelor's degree is in kinesiology/fitness) and, for a change, take life as it comes.

Q: Overall, how's life been since you and Kerri won the gold?

A: It was a bit of a whirlwind after, which you can expect after any Olympics. What makes it hard is right after the Olympics we still have one more competition, whereas most other sports are done. We lost that one and another, and the reason was we were just mentally and physically drained.

Q: So you figured "Dancing With the Stars" would be a break?

A: I was having a great time, but then I got hurt and had to have the surgery. So now it's just kind of nice to have a break.

Q: After the Olympics, did people constantly stop you and congratulate you?

A: Some people did. I think Kerri has a more difficult time because she's so tall (6-foot-3). I can kind of blend in. But my goal is if I can inspire one person to do something, then I've done my job. And it's just fun to interact with people.

Q: What stands out to you most from this past Olympics?

A: Out of my three Olympics, this was my best experience. The reason was I took the blinders off and experienced the Games. I went to different venues and met different people, as opposed to being so focused on one sport. Just being able to enjoy the culture, sights and sounds made it the best Olympics.

Q: Do you ever hear from people telling you that you've influenced or inspired them?

A: You don't sign up by saying, "I'm going to be a role model." But it just comes with the territory. I've become mentors to young girls, and Kerri and I just want people to go after their dreams, whatever they may be. Don't let somebody tell you that you can't, because you'll end up kicking yourself if you don't try. We want people to see that Kerri and I had a dream, and this is what we did to get there. So we want them to ask, "Why can't I?"