April Ross

April Ross is one of the few female beach volleyball athletes who have won medals in multiple Olympics. She is set to compete in Tokyo for her third Olympic medal alongside Alix Klineman, a first-time Olympian. Ross will also be hoping for her very first Olympic gold. At 39 and has a long way to go, this could be her last chance. But she's convinced that the top awards are in reach. Ross said on NBC Boston: "If we try our best, and even playing well I believe we can be able to win gold." Then I will also take the chance to have chances. Ross was born on August 22nd, 1982 located in Costa Mesa California. She resided in the area along with her entire family. Ross was a competitive athlete in a variety of sports during her time at Newport Harbor High School. Her prep athletic career included indoor volleyball as well as basketball as well as track and running. She clearly was the top at the sport of indoor volleyball. According to her bio, she was an outside blocker as well as a middle hitting volleyball player during her high-school career. Gatorade Circle Of Champions named her the national Player of 1999. In 2000, she was recognized as the Orange County Athlete of the Year for volleyball. Ross is currently playing alongside Klineman since the year 2017 but her beach game was established well before that. The fact is, she's won multiple big tournaments and one of them was a renowned volleyball player. The pair teamed along with Jennifer Kessy from 2007-2013, and was also Klineman's personal trainer. Kessy as well as Ross proved to be an impressive force on the international arena, taking home the 2009 World Championship as a team. The 2012 Olympic Games, they were awarded the gold medal. They were defeated for the gold medal by the legendary group comprising Misty and Kerri Walsh (Jennings). Ross Walsh was Walsh Jennings new partner after May-Treanor's departure. They went on to compete for the bronze beach volleyball trophy in the Rio Olympics in 2016 along with Walsh Jennings. In high school and the years before she hit the beach as a professional Ross played to the Trojans at USC while an collegiate. Ross's playing time with the Trojans was amazing. In 2000, she was named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and NCAA Freshman of the Year and an All-American. She was also an integral player to help the Trojans make the Final Four. Her sophomore year was the time she was devastated by a personal setback but managed to be a second All-American. Through her two final seasons with the Trojans program, she guided the team to win a national championship each year. She was a fantastic player on the court, and was awarded the Honda Sports Award in 2003-04 as the top female volleyball player at the college level. Ross studied the study of international relations in USC. Margie Ross did not get to witness Ross achieve beach volleyball's top stage. When Ross was a sophomore in USC her mother died of breast cancer. As a result, Ross remains close to her parent who died. Margie has been an inspiration throughout her life, as well as on the beaches.