April Ross

April Ross is only one of only a handful of beach volleyball players to have won medals more than once at an Olympics. Ross will compete in Tokyo for her 3rd Olympic medal alongside Alix Klineman, who is a first-time Olympian. Ross's aim is to get her first Olympic gold medal. This may be the last time she has the chance as she is 39 years old. But she's still convinced of winning top awards. Ross was mentioned by NBC Boston as saying that if you play your top, even if you perform well, you will win the gold. "I'm trying to also try a little luck." Ross was born in 1982 and was raised within Costa Mesa California with her sister and parents, began competing in the sports of the Newport Harbor High School. At Newport Harbor High School, she was a participant in many different sports. Her pre-athletic career comprised indoor volleyball, as well as basketball, running and track. But she clearly was a cut above the rest in the latter sport. Based on her biography, she was an outside blocker as well as a middle hitting volleyball player during her senior year at high school. Her efforts were recognized in 1999 when she was named Gatorade's Circle Of Champions National players of the year. She also won the Orange County Athlete of the of the year for volleyball. Ross and Klineman formed their relationship in 2017 However, Ross has been a beach star for years before. She actually won multiple major tournaments using two partners, among them the volleyball legend. Ross teamed up along with Jennifer Kessy from 2007-2013, and she also served as Klineman's trainer. Kessy was Ross's teammate at the World Championships in 2009. The duo eventually captured an Olympic silver medal during the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Misty May Treanor and Kerri Jennings the legendary team which took home the Olympic gold medal in 2012 in London, beat them out to win the gold medal. It was fate that had them. Ross turned out to be Walsh Jennings' new partner as May-Treanor stepped down. They went on to compete for the bronze beach volleyball medal in the Rio Olympics 2016 with Walsh Jennings. Ross participated in the Trojans of USC in her college years after she graduated the high school she attended. Her experience at USC was impressive. She was an All-American as well as Pac-10 Freshman of Year in the year 2000, a young freshman. Her performance also assisted in helping the Trojans reach their first Final Four. In her sophomore year, she suffered a tremendous personal loss but still managed to repeat as an All-American. Through her two final years of participation in the Trojans program, she coached them to a national title every time. In 2003-04, Ross was named as the most successful female volleyball player on the collegiate scene in America by The Honda Sports Award. Ross who was a USC international relations student, was a renowned volleyball player. Unfortunately, Ross mom Margie never got to see Ross rise to the top levels of beach volleyball stardom. As of 2001, when Ross was in her sophomore year in USC her mother died of breast cancer. She continues to cherish her parents who passed away. Margie at the beach as well as in her everyday life, is still a source of inspiration for her.