April Ross

April Ross is only one of the few beach volleyball players to have won medals multiple times at an Olympics. In Tokyo in the coming days she will attempt to claim her third Olympic medal with fellow the first-time Olympian Alix Klineman. Ross is also hoping to win her very first Olympic gold. As she is 39, it may be her last chance. Still confident but she is not sure. Ross was mentioned in NBC Boston as saying that when you perform at your very best, even if you play well we will get the gold. Also, I'll take the opportunity to try my chances. Ross, who was born 1982, and grew up in Costa Mesa California with her siblings and parents, started participating in athletics at Newport Harbor High school. Her athletic career was continued by Newport Harbor High School where she was a part of a number of different sports. Her prep athletic career included indoor volleyball along with basketball, track and running. However, she was a standout at this level. According to her bio, she played a middle blocker and an outside hitter on the volleyball court throughout her time in high school. In recognition of her work she was awarded an 1999 Gatorade Circle of Champions National Player of the Year. The skills she showed in volleyball also earned her an Orange County Athlete of the Awards in 2000. Ross and Klineman may have begun working together at the beginning of 2017, but Ross had already been a seasoned player at the beach before they joined forces. In fact, she's won numerous tournaments, including one with an iconic volleyball player. Jennifer Kessy coached her from 2007 until the year 2013. Alongside Kessy Ross was an ace in the world circuit, winning a world title in 2009. They went on to win a silver at the 2012 Olympic Games at London. Misty May Treanor and Kerri Jennings, the legend team which took home the Olympic gold medal in 2012 in London, took them out to win the gold. Ross was Walsh Jennings new partner after May-Treanor's departure. Together, they took home bronze in beach volleyball at the Rio Olympics of the year 2016. Ross was a player for the Trojans of USC in her college after graduating from high school. Ross's Trojans experience was impressive. When she was a freshman in 2000 the Trojans' performance earned her the Pac-10 and NCAA Young Player of the Year awards. Her performance also assisted in helping the Trojans get to their first Final Four. She suffered a devastating personal loss in her sophomore year, but she still repeated her place as an All-American. Over her final two years as a player, she led the Trojans to the top of the mountain netting consecutive national championships. For her part, she cemented her place as a legend when she won the Honda Sports Award for 2003-04. The award is given to the best female college volleyball players in the country. Ross was a student at USC in International Relations. Unfortunately Ross mother Margie did not get to see her daughter ascend to the very top of beach volleyball stardom. Ross's mother passed away from cancer of the breast in 2001. Ross had just become an undergraduate student in the second year at USC. But, she will always keep her mother's memory close and close. Margie has been an inspiration in her life and on the beaches.