April Ross

April Ross is one of just a handful of female beach volleyball stars to have medals won at several Olympics. In Tokyo in the coming days, she'll attempt to secure her third gold alongside fellow first-time Olympian Alix Klineman. Ross hopes to win more than her first Olympic medal. The next chance she'll ever have as she is 39 years old. But she's convinced that top honours are at hand. If we do our best or even if we play well I feel like we'll win the gold medal Ross spoke of via NBC Boston. So I'm going to take the chance as well. Ross came into the world in 1982. Costa Mesa California where she resided with her parents and sister. When she was at Newport Harbor High School, she was a participant in many activities. She played basketball and ran track, in addition to her indoor volleyball achievements during her prep time. As a finalist in her sport, she clearly stood out. Based on her biography, she was a middle blocker and outside hitter on the court of volleyball during her high-school career. The award was presented to her as The Gatorade National Circle of Champions player of the year in 1999 due to her accomplishments. Her skills in volleyball earned her an Orange County Athlete of the Award in the year 2000. Ross and Klineman started their partnership in 2017, but Ross was an established player on the beach long before. The American has been a major winner in events twice, with various partners. One of them is an icon in the world of volleyball. In the period 2007-2013 she played with Jennifer Kessy who more recently played the role of Klineman's coach. Kessy as well as Ross proved to be extremely successful on the world of professional sports, winning a 2009 world title together. In 2012, the pair were awarded silver medals at the London Olympics. They were eliminated for the gold medal by the legendary duo consisting of Misty June-Treanor and Kerri Walsh (Jennings). Ross was Walsh Jennings new partner after May-Treanor's departure. They took home the bronze medal at the beach volleyball competition in the Rio Olympics the year 2016. Ross played in the NCAA tournament with the Trojans of USC prior to making the jump to professional. She played during high school, as well as in the years before going to the beach for professional. Ross's time in the Trojans was outstanding. When she was a freshman at the school in 2000 she played her way to Pac-10 and NCAA Freshman of the Year awards and earned an All-American. In addition, she helped her Trojans get to the Final Four. During her sophomore season, she went through a heartbreaking personal loss but still managed to make it back as an All-American. Through her final two years as a player, she steered the Trojans to the top of the mountain netting successive national titles. Individually she had cemented herself as an all-time great winning the 2003-04 Honda Sports Award as the most outstanding female college volleyball player. Ross was a major in foreign relations and international affairs at USC. Unfortunately, Ross mom Margie didn't get to watch her daughter rise to the most elite levels of beach volleyball fame. Ross's mom Margie passed away in 2001. Ross was still a USC sophomore. The cancer was diagnosed as breast. She continues to keep her mother's memory close and dear. Margie remains an inspiration for her family on the beach, and throughout her life.