April Ross

April Ross has won more than one Olympic medal. She is one of only a handful of women beach volleyball athletes that have done so. Alix-Klineman is set to compete alongside April Ross in Tokyo for her third gold medal over the coming days. Ross's goal is to win her first Olympic Gold. As she is 39, it may be her final chance. However, she's convinced that top prizes are in reach. If we do our highest or play well I feel like we'll be able to win that gold medal Ross said via NBC Boston. It's also going to be an issue of luck. Ross was a Californian born in Costa Mesa, California in 1982. She lived here with her father, mother and younger sister. Her athletic career began at Newport Harbor High School where she was a part of a number of different sports. Her pre-athletic career comprised indoor volleyball as well as basketball as well as running and track. While she did well when playing indoors but it was apparent that her skills were above average. According to her biography, she was an outside blocker as well as a middle volleyball player during her senior year at high school. In recognition of her accomplishments she was awarded the Gatorade Award for National Player 1999. The year 2000 was the time she received an Orange County Athlete of the Year award in volleyball. Ross and Klineman may have begun working together in the year 2017, however Ross was an experienced athlete at the beach prior to when they joined forces. She has won major events twice, with various partners. A couple of those is an icon in the volleyball world. From 2007 to 2013 she played with Jennifer Kessy, who is the coach she is currently. Together, Kessy Ross was a force on the international circuit winning the world championship in 2009. The duo would go into winning a silver in the 2012 Olympic Games at London. Misty Maytreanor's legendary team and Kerri Jennings won the gold. Ross Jennings was May-Treanor's replacement after she had retired. They both went on to take home the bronze medal in beach volleyball at Rio Olympics in 2016 along with Walsh Jennings. Ross began her college professional career playing for the Trojans of USC after graduation from high school. This was years before Ross went to the sand and turned professional. Ross's time in the Trojans was impressive. She was a All-American as well as Pac-10 Freshman of the Year in the year 2000, a young freshman. She also helped her Trojans to reach the Final Four. She suffered a devastating personal loss in her sophomore year and yet she went on to repeat as an All-American. In her last two seasons with the Trojans program, she guided them to a national title each year. The individual accomplishments of her have established her status as a legend in volleyball. Ross was awarded the Honda Sports Award 2003-04 for the best female college player. Ross majored at USC in International Relations. Margie Ross did not get to watch her daughter's rise to fame as a beach volleyball player. Ross's mother passed away from breast cancer when she was in her sophomore year at USC. However, she continues to hold her lost parent near and dear. Margie is a beach lover and in daily life, is still a source of inspiration for her.