April Ross

April Ross is one of only a few female beach volleyball athletes to win medals in more than one Olympics. Alix Kallineman will compete with April Ross at Tokyo to take home her third gold medal during the next few days. Ross hopes to win more than her initial Olympic medal. With her age of 39, it may be her final chance to win an Olympic gold. She is still confident nevertheless. Ross stated to NBC Boston that he believes If they can play at their absolute best, or even an excellent game, we'll be in the running for gold. So I'm going to take some luck and hope for the best. Ross was born August 22nd, 1982 at Costa Mesa California. She lived there with her family. She then went on to compete in numerous sports during her time at Newport Harbor High School. As well as the indoor game, she played basketball and ran track while an athlete in the pre-professional stage. She was definitely a cut above the rest when it came to the second sport. When she played in her high school volleyball career, according to her college information, she played as an outside blocker, middle blocker hitter, and setter. She was awarded The Gatorade National Circle of Champions player of the Year in 1999 for her achievements. Also, she won the 2000 Orange County Athlete of the Year trophy for volleyball. Ross and Klineman have been performing their duties since 2017. But, Ross had already been a seasoned athlete in the volleyball world prior to the pairing. She was a winner of several major championships while playing with two different partners, one of whom is a volleyball icon. From 2007 until 2013, she was a team together with Jennifer Kessy who more recently was Klineman's coach. Kessy and Ross were strong on the world of professional sports, winning their first world title in 2009. The duo won silver at London's Olympics. They were beaten out for the gold medal by the legendary duo comprising Misty and Kerri Walsh (Jennings). As fate would have it Ross became Walsh Jennings' new partner after May-Treanor's retirement. They took home the bronze medal in beach volleyball at Rio Olympics the year 2016. Ross was a college player at USC Trojans prior to beginning making the jump to professional. The Trojans were at high school as well as in the years before playing on the beach as a professional. The time she spent through the institution was one to remember. In 2000, she was selected Pac-10 Freshman, and NCAA Freshman of the Year, and was also an All-American. She also helped the Trojans to make it to their first Final Four. She was devastated by a personal loss during her sophomore year however she was able to return as an All-American. In her last two years, she took the Trojans up the mountain to win consecutive national titles. She was a superb athlete, winning the Honda Sports Award in 2003-04 as the college's top female volleyball player. Ross was a student of the study of international relations in USC. Margie Ross did not see her daughter achieve the heights of the beach volleyball world. Ross's mother died in 2001 when Ross was still at the age of a USC sophomore. The cancer was diagnosed as breast. She continues to cherish her late parent. Margie is a constant source of inspiration to her both in and out of the water.