April Ross

April Ross was one of just a handful of women beach volleyball players who have won medals during several Olympics. In Tokyo during the next few days, she'll try to win her third gold medal alongside first-time Olympian Alix Klineman. Ross hopes to win more than just her first Olympic medal. With her age of 39, this may be Ross' last chance to win the Olympic gold. Her optimism is that she can achieve top honors. Ross said on NBC Boston that if they are at their absolute best and even play well and they are able to play well, the team will be able to win the gold medal. Therefore, I'm hoping to have the chance as well. Ross, who was born 1982, and grew up in Costa Mesa California with her mother and sister, first began playing athletics at Newport Harbor High school. She was able to participate in many activities during her time at Newport Harbor High School. As a pre-schooler she was a participant in indoor volleyball along with basketball as well as running track. However she was clearly an edge over the other players in the latter sport. According to her biography, she was a middle blocker and an outside hitting volleyball player during her senior year at high school. She was named the Gatorade National Circle of Champions player of the Year in 1999 due to her accomplishments. In 2000, the Orange County Athlete of the Month was also received by her in volleyball. Ross and Klineman started the partnership in 2017, but Ross had been a beach-scene player for years prior to. Actually, Ross has won several major tournaments in her career together with two other partners. One is a volleyball legend. She teamed up together with Jennifer Kessy from 2007-2013, and she also served as Klineman's personal trainer. Alongside Kessy Ross, she was a major force on the international circuit winning a world title in 2009. In 2012, the pair won silver at London's Olympic Games. Misty May, Kerri Walsh and Kerri Jennings were the group to beat for the gold. Ross Jennings was May-Treanor's replacement as she left the team. Together, they took home bronze in beach volleyball at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Ross participated in the Trojans of USC in her college years after she graduated high school. Her time at USC was awe-inspiring. When she was a freshman at the school in 2000 she earned Pac-10 and NCAA Freshman of the Year awards and was an All-American. Her Trojans also reached the Final Four. The Trojans suffered a significant personal loss during her sophomore year, yet was successful in achieving the All-American distinction. In her last two years she led the Trojans up the mountain and took home consecutive national championships. Ross was an excellent volleyball player and won the Honda Sports Award in 2003-04 as the most outstanding female volleyball player in the NCAA. Ross was a student of the study of international relations in USC. Margie Ross, Ross' mother, did not have the opportunity to see her daughter become an international beach volleyball star. As of 2001, when Ross was a sophomore in USC her mother died of breast cancer. She continues to cherish her parents who passed away. Margie is a beach lover and in daily life, inspires her.