April Ross

April Ross is only one of only a handful of beach volleyball players who have earned medals multiple times at an Olympics. Alix Klineman is a new Olympian and will join her in Tokyo. Ross is hoping to secure an Olympic the first medal of gold, but she's also hoping for more. Perhaps this is her only chance, at 39 years old. But she's convinced that top honors are firmly at hand. If we perform at our very best or even if we perform well, I think we can get that gold medal Ross said via NBC Boston. "I'm trying to also try a little luck." Ross was born in the city of Costa Mesa, California in the year 1982. Her parents as well as her sister were residents in the area. In Newport Harbor High School, she competed in numerous different sports. Her pre-athletic career comprised indoor volleyball, as well as basketball, running and track. She stood out however during this game. Her college biography states that she was an outside hitter middle blocker, as well as a setter in her volleyball playing career in high school. Her achievements were rewarded when she was named 1999 Gatorade's National Circle of Champions Player of the Year. In 2000, the Orange County Athlete of the Month award was also won by her for volleyball. Ross and Klineman might have begun working together in 2017, but Ross was already an established player at the beach before they joined forces. It's true that she's won multiple big tournaments and one of them was an all-star volleyball player. Jennifer Kessy was her partner for six years, from 2007 to 2013. She also coached Klineman as well as herself. Together with Kessy Ross was an ace in the world circuit, winning a world title in 2009. This duo went through to take home a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games at London. Misty May, Kerri Walsh and Kerri Jennings were the team to beat for the gold. The fate of the matter was that Ross became Walsh Jennings' new partner after May-Treanor's retirement. The pair were awarded bronze medals at the Rio Olympics for beach volleyball. Ross started her college career with the USC Trojans after high school. The Trojans were a few years away from when Ross went to the beach and became a pro. It was a successful career for Ross in the college level. In 2000, she was voted Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and NCAA Freshman Of The Year. She was also named an All-American. The Trojans were also able to get to the Final Four with her help. The Trojans suffered a significant personal loss in her sophomore, but was still successful in achieving the All-American distinction. In her last two seasons as a member of the Trojans team they won success by winning two consecutive national championships. The achievements of each individual have established her status as a legend in volleyball. She won the Honda Sports Award 2003-04 for the nation's best female collegiate player. Ross who was a USC international relations student was a renowned volleyball player. Margie Ross did not see her daughter reach the top of beach volleyball. In 2001 when Ross was in her sophomore year in USC her mother died of breast cancer. Ross is still awed by her mother who died. Margie continues to be an inspiration both on and off of the beach.