April Ross

April Ross is only one of the few beach volleyball players to have won medals more than once at an Olympics. In Tokyo over the next several days she will attempt to win her third gold medal with fellow first-time Olympian Alix Klineman. Ross wants to achieve more than just her first Olympic medal. It may well be that this is her only opportunity, given that she is 39 years old. Nevertheless she is confident that the top awards are within reach. Ross on NBC Boston, said that when the team performs consistently or well they can earn a gold. Additionally, I'm going put my faith in a touch of luck. Ross was born on the 22nd of October, 1982. She was raised in Costa Mesa California where she lived with her parents and sister. She was able to participate in a myriad of sports at Newport Harbor High School. Her pre-athletic career comprised indoor volleyball along with basketball as well as track and running. While she did well at indoor volleyball but it was apparent that her abilities were higher than the average. The college bio says that she was an outside hitter, middle blocker, and setter throughout her volleyball time in high school. The award was presented to her as the Gatorade National Circle of Champions player of the Year in 1999 for her achievements. Her volleyball skills also earned her the Orange County Athlete of the Years trophy in 2000. Ross and Klineman started their partnership in 2017, However, Ross had been a beach-scene celebrity for a long time prior to. As a matter of fact Ross has been a winner of several significant tournaments during her time with two partners. One of them is a legend. Jennifer Kessy coached her from 2007 through the year 2013. Together with Kessy, Ross won a World Title in 2009, while racing in the international circuit. The 2012 Olympic Games, they received the gold medal. The Misty Maytreanor legendary team as well as Kerri Jennings were the winners of gold. Ross Jennings took over for May-Treanor when she retired. The team won bronze in beach volleyball at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Ross participated in the Trojans at USC during her college after graduating from the high school she attended. Ross's time in the Trojans was impressive. She was an All-American and Pac-10 Freshman of the Year in 2000 as a young freshman. She also helped the Trojans reach into the Final Four. In her sophomore season she was devastated by a personal tragedy, but earned the distinction of being an All-American. Through her last two years in the program she led the Trojans up to the summit of the mountain netting successive national titles. In her own way, she cemented her place in the history books by winning the Honda Sports Award for 2003-04. This award was given to the most outstanding female college volleyball players in the country. Ross was a major in International Relations at USC. Unfortunately, Ross mom Margie did not get to see Ross's daughter reach the very top of beach volleyball stardom. As of 2001, when Ross was in her sophomore year at USC her mother died of breast cancer. She has kept her mother in her heart. Margie has been an inspiration throughout her life, as well as on the beaches.