April Ross

April Ross is one of only a few female beach volleyball athletes to win medals at multiple Olympics. She is set to compete in Tokyo for her third Olympic medal alongside Alix Klineman, a first-time Olympian. Ross is also hoping to win her first Olympic gold. At 39, this could be Ross' last opportunity to claim the Olympic gold. Still confident nevertheless. Ross on NBC Boston, said that if the team plays well or at all they could win a gold. It's also going to be the result of luck. Ross, who was born 1982 and was raised within Costa Mesa California with her mother and sister, first began playing sports at Newport Harbor High School. Ross competed in many sports while attending Newport Harbor High School. The prep sports she played included indoor volleyball along with basketball, track and running. Although she was a pro when playing indoors, it was clear that her abilities were higher than the average. Her college biography states that she was an outside-hitting hitter middle blocker, and setter in her volleyball playing career in high school. Gatorade Circle Of Champions named her the national Player of 1999. In 2000, she was recognized as the Orange County Athlete of the Yr for volleyball. Ross and Klineman may be working on a project in the year 2017, however Ross was already an established athlete at the beach prior to when they teamed up. In fact, she won numerous major events using two partners, one of whom is an icon of volleyball. In the period 2007 until 2013, she was a team alongside Jennifer Kessy who more recently served as her and Klineman's coach. Together together with Kessy Ross, she won a World Title in 2009, while racing in the international circuit. They took home a Silver medal in the 2012 Olympic Games held in London. Misty Maytreanor (Jennings) and Misty Maytreanor took home gold overtaking them. The fate of the matter was that Ross was Walsh Jennings' new partner as May-Treanor stepped down. Both went on to win the bronze beach volleyball medal at the Rio Olympics 2016 with Walsh Jennings. Ross started her college career with the USC Trojans following high school. The Trojans were a few years away from when Ross made her debut on the beach, and then became a pro. Ross's Trojans experience was amazing. When she was a freshman in 2000 Her performance was rewarded with the Pac-10 and NCAA Young Player of the Year awards. In 2000, her Trojans made it to the Final Four. She endured a great personal loss in her sophomore, however, she was able to achieve the All-American distinction. In the two years she played for the Trojans, she helped them achieve consecutive championships. She had established herself as an all-time legend by winning the 2003-2004 Honda Sports Award as the highest ranked female volleyball player. Ross was a student of international relations at USC. Margie Ross did not get to watch her daughter's climb to fame as a beach volleyball player. Margie, Ross's mother, passed away in 2001. Ross was a USC sophomore. She had breast cancer. She still holds her mother very dearly. Margie remains a constant source of inspiration to her both in and out of the water.