April Ross

April Ross has won more than one Olympic gold medal. Ross is among only a handful of women beach volleyball athletes to have done so. Ross will compete in Tokyo to compete for her third Olympic medal with Alix Klineman, who is a first-time Olympian. Ross is also hoping to win her very first Olympic gold. Since she's 39 years old she could have her final chance. She remains optimistic that she will be able to win top awards. Ross stated via NBC Boston: "If we try our best, and even If we play our best, I think we could be able to win gold." Therefore, I'm hoping to have the chance too. Ross was born August 22nd, 1982 in Costa Mesa California. She resided in the area along with her entire family. Ross's athletic endeavors began at Newport Harbor High School where she played in a variety of different sports. She played basketball and ran track, in addition to her indoor volleyball achievements as a prep athlete. But she stood out during this game. When she played in her college volleyball season, according to her college bio, she was an outside-hitter, middle-blocker and setter. As a tribute to her efforts she was awarded the Gatorade Award for National Player 1999. She also captured the award in 2000. Orange County Athlete of the Award for volleyball. Ross is currently playing alongside Klineman since the year 2017 but her beach game was established well before this. In fact, she won multiple major tournaments with two different partners, among them the volleyball legend. For six years from 2007-2013 she played together with Jennifer Kessy who more recently served as her and Klineman's coach. Kessy and Ross were strong on the world circuit, winning the 2009 World Championship together. At the 2012 Olympic Games, they won the gold medal. The legendary Misty Maytreanor team along with Kerri Jennings won the gold. Ross Jennings replaced May-Treanor when she retired. The pair took bronze at the Rio Olympics for beach volleyball. Ross was a Trojans player for the USC in her college the years prior to her professional career. She had a great run during her time in the NCAA tournament. She was a All-American as well as Pac-10 Freshman of the Year in the year 2000, a young freshman. The Trojans had the chance to reach the Final Four with her help. Her personal life was tense after a devastating loss in her sophomore, but was still capable of achieving the All-American distinction. In her last two years of participation in the Trojans team, she led the team to win a national championship every time. In 2003-2004, she was named the best female volleyball player at a collegiate level in America by the Honda Sports Award. Ross was a USC international relations student, was a volleyball star. Margie Ross was never able to see her daughter reach the top of the beach volleyball ladder. Ross's mother died of cancer of the breast in the year 2001. Ross had just become a second-year student at USC. Ross holds her mother dear. Margie at the beach and in daily life, inspires her.