April Ross

April Ross is only one of the beach volleyball athletes to win medals at least twice in an Olympics. She is set to compete in Tokyo to compete for her third Olympic medal with Alix Klineman, who is a first-time Olympian. But more than that, Ross will be aiming for the first Olympic gold. And at the age of 39 this may be her last opportunity to achieve it. However, she's convinced that top prizes are within reach. Ross on NBC Boston, said that if the team plays very well, or even at all, they could win a gold. In addition, I'll try the chance to have chance. Ross was born in California in Costa Mesa in 1982. She grew up in Costa Mesa with her father, mother and younger sister. Ross was a competitive athlete in a variety of sports during her time at Newport Harbor High School. As a pre-schooler she was a participant in indoor volleyball along with basketball and running track. However, she was a standout in this sport. According to her bio her high school days, she played volleyball as an outside hitter (middle blocker) and the setter (outside blocker). As a tribute to her efforts, she received the Gatorade Award for National Player 1999. The 2000 Orange County Athlete of the Month award was also won by her for volleyball. Ross and Klineman may have begun working together at the beginning of 2017, but Ross was already an established athlete at the beach prior to when they teamed up. Actually Ross has been a winner of several major tournaments in her career with two partners. One of them is a legend. In the period 2007 until 2013, she was a team alongside Jennifer Kessy who more recently served as her and Klineman's coach. Kessy was Ross's teammate at the World Championships in 2009. The pair eventually picked up a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Misty May Treanor and Kerri Jennings the legendary team that was the winners of the 2012 Olympics in London, beat each other to take home the gold medal. Ross Jennings became Walsh Jennings partner in fate as Maytreanor resigned. The duo went on to earn the beach volleyball bronze in the Rio Olympics in 2016. Ross began her college time with the Trojans at USC after her high school days. The Trojans were a few years away from when Ross went to the beach and became a pro. The time she spent at USC was impressive. As a freshman in 2000 she fought her way to Pac-10 as well as NCAA The Freshman of the Year honors and was an All-American. The Trojans could also reach the Final Four with her help. The Trojans suffered a heartbreaking personal loss during her sophomore year, but she still repeated in the ranks of an All-American. Through her last two years in the program she led the Trojans towards the summit of the mountain netting three consecutive championships at the national level. The achievements of each individual have established her status as a legend in volleyball. She was awarded the Honda Sports Award 2003-04 for the top female NCAA player. Ross was an international relations student at USC. Margie Ross, Ross' mother, never had the privilege of watching her daughter become an international beach volleyball star. Ross's mom died from cancer of the breast in 2001. Ross had just become an undergraduate student in the second year at USC. But, she will always hold her lost parent near and close. In addition, Margie continues to be an encouragement for her on the beach as well as in everyday her daily life.