April Ross

April Ross is one of just a handful of female beach volleyball athletes who have won medals in more than one Olympics. She is set to compete in Tokyo for her 3rd Olympic gold medal along with Alix Klineman, who is a first-time Olympian. Ross wants to achieve more than her first Olympic medal. The next opportunity she gets as she is 39 years old. Still confident but she is not sure. Ross said on NBC Boston that if they are at their absolute best and even play well her team can win a gold medal. Then I will also take the chance to have chances. Ross was born in the city of Costa Mesa, California in 1982. Her parents and her sister lived there. She went on to compete in many activities in Newport Harbor High School. Along with indoor volleyball, she ran track and basketball as a pre-collegiate athlete. In her final game she was clearly the standout. Her college biography states that she was an outside hitter, middle blocker and setter during her volleyball career in high school. Gatorade Circle of Champions named her the National Player of 1999. Her volleyball skills also won her the Orange County Athlete of the Years trophy in 2000. Ross Klineman and Ross may have begun working together at the beginning of 2017, but Ross was already an established athlete at the beach prior to when they came together. In fact, she won several major championships while playing using two partners, one of which is an icon of volleyball. Between 2007 and 2013, she was partnered by Jennifer Kessy, who is now her coach. Together with Kessy Ross was an ace in the world circuit, winning a world title in 2009. The duo took silver in London's Olympic Games. Misty May, Kerri Walsh and Kerri Jennings were the trio that could take home the gold. It was fate that had them. Ross turned out to be Walsh Jennings' new partner when May-Treanor retired. In 2016, the pair took bronze at the Rio Olympics for beach volleyball. Ross began her collegiate professional career playing for the Trojans of USC after her high school days. The Trojans were a few years away from when Ross went to the beach, and then became a pro. The time she spent at the school was one to remember. In 2000, she was named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and NCAA Freshman Of The Year and an All-American. The Trojans were also able to make it to the Final Four with her help. The Trojans were devastated by a tragic incident in her second year, but she went on to be an All-American once more. During her final two seasons as a member of the Trojans in the program, she led them to victories by winning the national title in consecutive years. She was a great volleyball player, winning the Honda Sports Award in 2003-04 as the most outstanding female college volleyball player. Ross studied the study of international relations in USC. Margie Ross did not see her daughter reach the top of the beach volleyball ladder. Ross's mom died from breast carcinoma in the year 2001. Ross had just become sophomore at USC. She is devoted to her mother who died. Margie is an inspiration on and off of the beach.