April Ross

April Ross was one of the few female beach volleyball athletes who earned medals in several Olympics. Ross will compete in Tokyo for her 3rd Olympic medal with Alix Klineman who is a first time Olympian. Ross's aim is to get her first Olympic Gold. At 39 she could have her last shot. She is still confident, however. Ross declared on NBC Boston: "If we try our best, and even playing well, I think we could be able to win gold." Also, it's the result of luck. Ross was born in the city of Costa Mesa, California in the year 1982. Her parents and sister were residents there. The athletic pursuits she pursued continued at Newport Harbor High School where she was a part of a number of different sports. When she was a student in the prep school, she competed in basketball, indoor volleyball as well as running track. But she stood out at this level. Through her high school years, she played middle blocker, outside hitter and setter on the volleyball court as per her bio at the college. As a tribute to her efforts she was awarded the Gatorade Award for National Player in 1999. In 2000, the Orange County Athlete of the Month award was also won by her for volleyball. Ross is playing alongside Klineman since the year 2017, but Ross's beach game had been established long before this. As a matter of fact, Ross has won several significant tournaments during her time with two partners. One is a volleyball legend. Jennifer Kessy was her partner for six years, from 2007 until 2013. Also, she coached Klineman and herself. Alongside Kessy Ross was a force on the international stage, claiming the world championship in 2009. In the 2012 Olympic Games, they were awarded the gold medal. Misty May, Kerri Walsh and Kerri Jennings were the group to beat out for gold. Ross Jennings took over for May-Treanor as she left the team. In 2016, the pair won bronze in the Rio Olympics for beach volleyball. Ross was a student athlete with the Trojans of USC prior to starting her professional career. She played in high school, as well as before hitting the beach as a professional. Ross's time in the Trojans was remarkable. She was an All-American as well as Pac-10 freshman of the year in 2000 as a young freshman. She also helped the Trojans to make it to into the Final Four. In her sophomore season she suffered a devastating personal loss, yet managed to earn the honor of being named an All-American. The two years following her, she took the Trojans to the top of the mountain and clinched consecutive national championships. As an individual, she established herself as an all-time legend winning the 2003-04 Honda Sports Award as the nation's top female collegiate volleyball player. Ross studied International Relations at USC. Sadly, Ross mother Margie never got to see her daughter ascend to the highest levels of beach volleyball superstardom. Ross lost the breast cancer that she battled in 2001. Ross was then a sophomore. However, she keeps her parent close to his heart. Margie is a beach lover as well as in everyday life, inspires her.