April Ross

April Ross is only one of only a handful of beach volleyball players who have earned medals more than once at an Olympics. Alix-Klineman is set to compete alongside April Ross Tokyo to win her third gold medal in the next couple of days. Ross wants to achieve more than her initial Olympic medal. This may be the last time she has the chance at age 39. Her confidence is high, however. Ross, via NBC Boston, said that if the team plays very well, or even at all, they could win a gold. "I'm planning to test a little luck." Ross is born in the year 1982. Costa Mesa California where she lived with her parents as well as a sister. While at Newport Harbor High School, she was a participant in many activities. She competed in basketball and track, in addition to her indoor volleyball achievements as a prep athlete. When she played in the final sport, she clearly stood out. Through her high school years, she was a middle blocker outside hitter and setter at the tennis court, according to her bio at the college. Thanks to her hard work, she was honored as the 1999 Gatorade Circle of Champions National Player of the Year. Also, she won the 2000 Orange County Athlete of the Year trophy for volleyball. Ross has been playing with Klineman since 2017 but her beach game was well-established long before that. The American has been a major winner in tournaments twice with different partners. A couple of those has become an iconic player in the volleyball world. Ross teamed up along with Jennifer Kessy from 2007-2013, and was also Klineman's personal trainer. Together with Kessy Ross was awarded a World Title in 2009 while competing internationally. The duo would go through to take home a silver medal in the 2012 Olympic Games at London. Misty May, Kerri Walsh and Kerri Jennings were the group that could take home the gold. Ross Jennings took over for May-Treanor after she announced her retirement. Together, they won bronze in beach volleyball at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Ross was a college athlete at USC Trojans prior to beginning the start of her professional career. She played during high school and in years prior to hitting the beaches as a professional. Ross had an impressive run during her time in the NCAA tournament. She was a All-American and Pac-10 Freshman of the Year when she was a teen freshman. The Trojans could also reach the Final Four with her help. In her sophomore year, she suffered a tremendous personal setback but managed to be a second All-American. Over her final two years as a player, she led the Trojans towards the summit by winning two successive national titles. As an individual she established herself in the history books by winning the Honda Sports Award for 2003-04. The award is given to the top female college volleyball players across the country. Ross majored in International Relations at USC. Unfortunately Ross mom Margie never got to see Ross rise to the top levels of beach volleyball fame. Ross suffered the loss of the breast cancer that she battled in 2001. Ross was then a sophomore. Ross is still awed by her mother who died. Margie, on the beach as well as in everyday life, is still a source of inspiration for her.