April Ross

April Ross has won more than one Olympic medal. Ross is among only a handful of female beach volleyball players that have achieved this feat. Alix Klineman, playing for the first time in Tokyo's Olympics is hoping to secure her third medal. More than that though Ross will be aiming for her first Olympic gold. Since she's 39 years old, it may be her last chance. But she's convinced that the top awards are in reach. Ross declared on NBC Boston: "If we do our best and even playing well, I think we could win the gold medal." Also, it's the result of luck. Ross was born in California in the city of Costa Mesa in 1982. She lived here with her mother, father and sibling. While at Newport Harbor High School, she competed in numerous sports. She was a basketball player and also ran track in addition to her volleyball skills in the indoors as a prep athlete. She was clearly the best at the sport of indoor volleyball. As a time at the high school level in her university biography she played as a middle-blocker, outside-hitter and setter. To honor her achievements, she received the Gatorade Award for National Player 1999. She also was awarded the Orange County Athlete of the of the year for volleyball. Ross and Klineman began the partnership in 2017, However, Ross was a beach scene player for years prior to. In fact, she won several major championships while playing with two different partners, one of which is an icon of volleyball. From 2007 until 2013, she was partnered by Jennifer Kessy, who is currently her coach. Kessy was Ross's co-coach at the World Championships of 2009. The pair eventually picked up an Olympic silver medal during the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Misty May Treanor and Kerri Jennings the legendary team who won the 2012 Olympic Games in London, took their opponents to claim the gold medal. Ross Jennings was the replacement for May-Treanor as she announced her retirement. In 2016, the pair took bronze at the Rio Olympics for beach volleyball. Ross competed for USC Trojans throughout her college prior to becoming a professional. This was an impressive career for Ross in the school. She was a All-American and Pac-10 Freshman of the Year when she was a teen freshman. Additionally, she was a key player for helping the Trojans make their way to the Final Four. Her personal tragedy was a crushing loss in her sophomore year however she was able to return her place as an All-American. During her final two seasons in the Trojans in the program, she led them to victory by winning the national title in consecutive years. Her individual achievements have cemented her place as a legendary volleyball player. She was awarded the Honda Sports Award 2003-04 for the best female college player. Ross, an USC international relations student, was a volleyball star. Margie Ross, Ross' mother, never had the chance to watch Ross' daughter blossom into an international beach volleyball star. In 2001 when Ross was in her sophomore year in USC her mother passed away due to breast cancer. As a result, Ross remains close to her parent who died. Margie at the beach and in daily life, is still a source of inspiration for her.