April Ross

April Ross is only one of the beach volleyball players who have earned medals more than once at an Olympics. In Tokyo during the next few days she will attempt to claim her third Olympic medal along with the first-time Olympian Alix Klineman. Ross's aim is to get her first Olympic gold medal. At 39, this could be her last chance to do so. But she's still confident of achieving top honours. Ross, via NBC Boston, said that If the team is performing well or at all it could be able to win gold. Then I will also take some chance. Ross was born on the 22nd of October, 1982. She was raised in Costa Mesa California where she lived with her parents as well as a sister. Her athletic career began at Newport Harbor High School where she participated in several different sports. While a prep student she played indoor volleyball along with basketball and running track. When she played in the final sport, she clearly stood out. As a college volleyball season as per her college bio, she was an outside-hitter, middle-blocker and setter. In recognition of her work she was awarded in 1999 as the Gatorade Champion of Champions Circle of Champions Player of the Year. In 2000, the Orange County Athlete of the Month was also received by her in volleyball. While Ross and Klineman have been doing their thing since the year 2017, Klineman was already an established player on the beach scene even before the pair formed. The fact is, she's had numerous big wins and one partner was a volleyball superstar. For six years from 2007-2013 she played alongside Jennifer Kessy who more recently was Klineman's coach. Along with Kessy, Ross won an Olympic Title in 2009 when she competed on the international circuit. They eventually won an Olympic silver medal during the 2012 Olympic Games in London. They were defeated for the gold by the legendary duo of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh (Jennings). Ross Jennings took over for May-Treanor when she retired. In 2016, the pair were awarded bronze medals at the Rio Olympics for beach volleyball. Ross played for the USC Trojans in college years after she graduated in high school. Her experience at USC was impressive. She was a All-American and Pac-10 freshman of the year when she was a teen freshman. In 2000, her Trojans made it to the Final Four. Her heart was broken through a tragedy in her life during her second year, but she managed to become an All-American again. In her last two years she led the Trojans up to the summit and won consecutive national titles. The individual accomplishments of her 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 studied international relations at USC. Unfortunately, Ross mom Margie never got to see her daughter ascend to the highest levels of beach volleyball fame. In 2001 when Ross was a sophomore at USC her mother passed away due to breast cancer. She is devoted to her parents who passed away. Margie has inspired her in her life and on the beaches.