April Ross

April Ross is only one of the few beach volleyball players who have earned medals at least twice in an Olympics. Alix-Klineman will compete with April Ross Tokyo in order to claim her third gold medal in the next couple of days. Ross aims to earn her Olympic first gold medal, but she's also hoping to earn greater. With her age of 39, this may be her final opportunity to claim the Olympic gold. The athlete is optimistic she can achieve top honors. Ross, via NBC Boston, said that when the team performs very well, or even at all, it could be able to win gold. "I'm also going to try a little luck." Ross, who was born 1982 and was raised in Costa Mesa California with her sister and parents, began competing in athletics at Newport Harbor High school. While at Newport Harbor High School, she competed in numerous sports. She played basketball and ran track, in addition to her indoor volleyball exploits in her time as a college athlete. But she clearly was a cut above the rest in this latter game. Through her high school years, she played middle blocker, outside hitter and setter at the tennis court as per her college bio. She was awarded by the Gatorade National Circle of Champions Player of the year in 1999 for her achievements. Her skills in volleyball earned her an Orange County Athlete of the Awards in 2000. Ross and Klineman started the partnership in 2017, but Ross had been a beach-scene star for years before. In reality, she's been a winner of numerous major tournaments and one of them was a volleyball superstar. Jennifer Kessy was her partner for six years, from 2007 until 2013. She also coached Klineman as well as herself. Along with Kessy Ross, she won a World Title in 2009, while racing on the international circuit. The 2012 Olympic Games, they received the gold medal. Misty Maytreanor (Jennings) and Misty Maytreanor took home gold overtaking them. As fate would have it Ross was Walsh Jennings' new partner when May-Treanor retired. They won the beach volleyball bronze at the Rio Olympics in the year 2016. Ross was a college player with the Trojans of USC prior to the start of her professional career. She was a player in high school, and even some years before she hit the beaches as a professional. She had a great run in the NCAA tournament. In her first year at the school, 2000 saw her earn the Pac-10 as well as NCAA Freshman's of the Year awards and be an All-American. Additionally, she was a key player in helping the Trojans to make it to the Final Four. Her personal life was tense after a devastating defeat in her sophomore year however, she was able to achieve the All-American award. In her last two seasons in the program she led the Trojans up to the summit of the mountain netting successive national titles. Ross was an excellent player on the court, and was awarded the Honda Sports Award in 2003-04 as the most outstanding female college volleyball player. Ross studied international relations at USC. Margie Ross didn't get to witness Ross reach beach volleyball's highest levels. Ross's mother passed away from cancer of the breast when she was a sophomore in USC. But she still keeps her mother in her heart. Margie is an inspiration both on and off of the beach.