April Ross

April Ross is one of just a handful of female beach volleyball athletes to win medals at more than one Olympics. Alix Klineman has become a brand new Olympian and will join her in Tokyo. In addition, Ross hopes to win her first Olympic gold. As she is 39, it may be her final chance. She remains optimistic that she'll be successful in achieving top honours. Ross told NBC Boston that if they perform at their very best, and even play well her team could win a gold medal. This is also the result of luck. Ross was born in Costa Mesa, California in the year 1982. Her parents as well as her sister resided in the area. Her athletic career continued at Newport Harbor High School where she participated in several activities. In her time as a college athlete she played indoor volleyball and track. In the last sport she stood out. According to her bio in high school, she played volleyball as an outside setter (middle blocker) and the setter (outside blocker). Her achievements were rewarded in 1999 when she was named Gatorade's Circle of Champions National Player of the Year. The skills she showed in volleyball also brought her an Orange County Athlete of the Years trophy in the year 2000. Ross and Klineman might be working on a project at the beginning of 2017, but Ross was an experienced player at the beach before they came together. Actually, Ross has won several major tournaments in her career along with her two teammates. One of them is a volleyball legend. Ross teamed up with Jennifer Kessy from 2007-2013, and also was Klineman's personal trainer. Along together with Kessy Ross was awarded an Olympic Title in 2009 when she competed on the international circuit. They won a Silver Medal in the 2012 Olympic Games held in London. Misty May, Kerri Walsh and Kerri Jennings were the group to beat for the gold. Ross Jennings replaced May-Treanor when she retired. In 2016, the duo were awarded bronze medals at the Rio Olympics for beach volleyball. Ross started her college professional career playing for the Trojans of USC after high school. The Trojans were a few years away from when Ross went to the beach, and then became a professional. Her time in the Trojans' ranks was an impressive one. She was a All-American and Pac-10 freshman of the year when she was a teen freshman. Also, she was an integral player for helping the Trojans to make it to their way to the Final Four. In her sophomore year, she was devastated by a personal loss but still managed to make it back as an All-American. The two years following her, she took the Trojans to the top of the mountain and won consecutive national titles. For her part she established herself in the history books by winning the Honda Sports Award for 2003-04. The award is given to the best female college volleyball players across the United States. Ross majored in the field of international relations in USC. Margie Ross, Ross' mother, never had the privilege of watching her daughter become a beach volleyball superstar. Margie, Ross's mother, passed away in 2001. Ross was still in the midst of being a USC sophomore. Her breast cancer had been diagnosed. But she still keeps her parent close to his heart. Margie has been an inspiration both in her personal life and at the beach.