April Ross

April Ross is one of just a handful of female beach volleyball stars who have managed to have medals won at multiple Olympics. In Tokyo during the coming days, she'll attempt to secure her third gold together with fellow first-time Olympian Alix Klineman. Ross would like to do more than just her first Olympic medal. This could be the final opportunity she gets to do so at the age of 39. However, she remains optimistic that the most important medals are within reach. Ross said on NBC Boston that he believes If they can play at their absolute best, or even a great game, we will win the gold. Therefore, I'm hoping to have a little bit of luck also. Ross, who was born 1982, and grew up within Costa Mesa California with her mother and sister, first began taking part in athletics at the Newport Harbor High school. Ross went on to play in numerous activities during her time at Newport Harbor High School. She competed in basketball and the track as well as her indoor volleyball exploits as a prep athlete. In her final game she was clearly the standout. According to her bio, she played a middle blocker and outside hitter in the volleyball court throughout her high-school career. For her efforts she was honoured as the 1999 Gatorade International Player of the year in Circle of Champions. She was also awarded her the Orange County Athlete of the Award for volleyball. Ross and Klineman have been performing their duties since 2017. In reality, Ross was already an established player on the beach volleyball scene before the pairing. She actually won many major events playing two partners. One of which is famous for her volleyball skills. In 2007 through 2013, she was working by Jennifer Kessy, who is now her coach. Along together with Kessy Ross, she won a World Title in 2009 while competing in the international circuit. They eventually won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. They were knocked out of the gold by the legendary team comprising Misty and Kerri Walsh (Jennings). Ross Jennings was Walsh Jennings partner in fate when Maytreanor decided to retire. They took home the bronze medal at the beach volleyball competition in the Rio Olympics 2016. After graduating from high school and a couple of several years prior to hitting the sand professionally, Ross made her debut for the USC Trojans as a collegiate. Her time in the Trojans' ranks was one to remember. As a freshman in 2000 she fought her way to Pac-10 and NCAA freshman of the year honors and earned an All-American. In 2000, her Trojans were also able to make it to the Final Four. Her personal tragedy was a crushing loss in her sophomore season, but she still repeated in the ranks of an All-American. The two seasons she spent as a member of the Trojans they helped achieve consecutive championships. Individually, she cemented her place as a legend when she won the Honda Sports Award for 2003-04. This prize was awarded to the highest female collegiate player of the year in America. Ross graduated with a degree in the field of international relations in USC. Unfortunately Ross mom Margie never got to see her daughter ascend to the very top of beach volleyball fame. In 2001 when Ross was in her sophomore year studying at USC her mother passed away from cancer of the breast. She still cherishes her late parent. Margie is a constant source of inspiration to her, in and out on the beach.