April Ross

April Ross is only one of the few beach volleyball athletes to win medals at least twice in an Olympics. In Tokyo during the next few days, she'll try to win her third gold medal with fellow first-time Olympian Alix Klineman. More than that though Ross is aiming to capture her very first Olympic gold. Since she's 39 years old, it may be her last chance. Nevertheless she is confident that winning the gold medal is at hand. Ross stated via NBC Boston: "If we try our best, and even If we play our best, I think we could win the gold medal." So I'm going to take the chance also. Ross was born on August 22, 1982, at Costa Mesa California. She lived there along with her entire family. Apart from participating in a variety of sports, Ross also attended Newport Harbor High School. When she was a student in the prep school she was a participant in basketball, indoor volleyball as well as running track. She stood out however at this level. In her college profile, she was an outside-hitting hitter middle blocker and setter in her volleyball playing career at high school. As a tribute to her efforts, she received the Gatorade Award for National Player 1999. The year 2000 was the time she was awarded her the Orange County Athlete of the Year award in volleyball. Ross and Klineman are doing what they do since the year 2017. However, Ross was a major player in the world of beach volleyball before joining the duo. The fact is, she's won multiple big tournaments and one of them was a renowned volleyball player. Jennifer Kessy coached her from 2007 until 2013. Kessy was Ross's co-coach at the 2009 World Championships. They went through to take home a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games at London. The legendary Misty Maytreanor team as well as Kerri Jennings took home the gold. Ross Jennings was May-Treanor's replacement when she retired. Together, they took home beach volleyball bronze for the Rio Olympics in 2016. Ross competed for USC Trojans in her college the years prior to her professional career. It was a successful career for Ross in the college level. As a freshmen in 2000 the Trojans' performance earned her the Pac-10 as well as NCAA Freshman-of-the-Year honors. Additionally, she assisted her Trojans get to the Final Four. Her personal tragedy was a crushing loss in her sophomore season, but she still repeated her place as an All-American. Through her two final years with the Trojans, she helped them win consecutive championships. In 2003-2004, Ross was named the top female volleyball player at a collegiate level in the United States according to the Honda Sports Award. Ross was a major in International Relations at USC. Unfortunately Ross mom Margie did not get to see her daughter ascend to the very top of beach volleyball superstardom. In 2001 when Ross was in her sophomore year in USC her mother passed away from breast cancer. But she still keeps her parents close to her heart. Margie, on the beach and in daily life, is still a source of inspiration for her.