April Ross

April Ross is only one of the beach volleyball players who have earned medals more than once at an Olympics. Ross will compete in Tokyo to compete for her third Olympic medal alongside Alix Klineman, a first time Olympian. More than that though Ross hopes to win her first Olympic gold. This may be the last chance she'll ever have as she is 39 years old. Nevertheless, she remains certain of taking top honors. Ross through NBC Boston, said that If the team is performing very well, or even at all, they could win a gold. Also, it's a matter of chance. Ross was born in Costa Mesa, California in 1982. Her parents and sister were residents in the area. While at Newport Harbor High School, she competed in numerous sports. Apart from indoor volleyball, she ran track and basketball as a pre-collegiate athlete. But she clearly was an edge over the other players when it came to the second sport. According to her bio, during high school she played volleyball as an outside hitter (middle blocker) and setter (outside blocker). In recognition of her accomplishments she was awarded the Gatorade Award for National Player in 1999. In 2000, the Orange County Athlete of the Month was also received by her in volleyball. Ross and Klineman began their relationship in 2017 however, Ross has been a beach celebrity for a long time prior to. The fact is, she's had numerous big wins as well as one of her partners was a volleyball superstar. Jennifer Kessy coached her from 2007 until the year 2013. Kessy was Ross's co-coach at the World Championships in 2009. They went into winning a silver at the 2012 Olympic Games at London. They were beaten out for the gold by the legendary duo comprising Misty and Kerri Walsh (Jennings). Ross Jennings was Walsh Jennings partner in fate after Maytreanor's retirement. They took home the bronze medal in beach volleyball during the Rio Olympics 2016. Ross began her college career with the USC Trojans following her high school days. The Trojans were a few years away from when Ross hit the beach, and then became a professional. The time she spent in the Trojans' ranks was a memorable one. She was a All-American and Pac-10 Freshman of Year in the year 2000, a young freshman. The Trojans made it to the Final Four. Her personal tragedy was a crushing loss in her sophomore year however she was able to return her place as an All-American. In the two years she played for the Trojans they helped win consecutive championships. As an individual, she established her place as a legend by winning the 2003-04 Honda Sports Award as the nation's top female collegiate volleyball player. Ross was an international relations student at USC. Margie Ross, Ross' mother, never had the chance to watch Ross' daughter blossom into the beach volleyball's biggest star. Margie, Ross's mother, passed away in 2001, when Ross was in the midst of being a USC sophomore. The cancer was diagnosed as breast. Ross holds her mother very dearly. In addition, Margie continues to be an motivation for her at the beach as well as in everyday life.