April Ross

April Ross, a beach volleyball star American is part of a select group of women who have had medals won in more than one Olympics. Alix Klineman is a new Olympian and will join her in Tokyo. More than that though Ross will be aiming for the first Olympic gold. At 39, it could be her last opportunity to do so. She remains optimistic that she'll be successful in achieving top honours. Ross declared on NBC Boston: "If we perform our best and playing well, I think we could win the gold medal." It's also going to be the result of luck. Ross was born in the city of Costa Mesa, California in the year 1982. Her parents and sister resided in the area. Ross's athletic endeavors was continued by Newport Harbor High School where she participated in several sports. Apart from indoor volleyball, she was a basketball player and also ran track in her pre-college days. In the last sport, she clearly stood out. Based on her bio, she played an outside blocker as well as a middle hitting volleyball player during her senior year at high school. Her achievements were rewarded in 1999 when she was named Gatorade's National Circle of Champions Player of the Year. The year 2000 was the time she received an Orange County Athlete of the Year award in volleyball. Ross and Klineman formed their relationship in 2017 but Ross was a beach scene star for years before. The American has been a major winner in tournaments twice with different partners. One of them has become an icon of the world of volleyball. Ross teamed up together with Jennifer Kessy from 2007-2013, and she also served as Klineman's personal trainer. Kessy as well as Ross proved to be strong on the international circuit, winning a 2009 world title as a team. In the 2012 Olympic Games, they were awarded the gold medal. Misty May Treanor and Kerri Jennings, the team of legends that was the winners of the 2012 Olympics in London, took them out to win the gold. Ross Jennings was the replacement for May-Treanor as she retired. Both went on to win the bronze beach volleyball trophy at Rio Olympics in 2016 along with Walsh Jennings. Ross was a student athlete with the Trojans of USC prior to starting her professional career. She played in high school, as well as years prior to hitting the beach professionally. Ross's time in the Trojans was impressive. In 2000, she was voted Pac-10 Freshman as well as NCAA Freshman Of The Year, and was also an All-American. Her performance also assisted in helping the Trojans reach into the Final Four. Her personal life was tense after a devastating loss during her sophomore year, but was still successful in achieving the All-American title. In her last two seasons within the team, she guided the Trojans to the summit by winning two successive national titles. In 2003-2004, Ross was named the best collegiate female volleyball player in America by the Honda Sports Award. Ross was an USC international relations student was a star in volleyball. Margie Ross was not able to witness Ross reach beach volleyball's highest levels. Ross's mom passed away due to breast cancer when she was in her sophomore year at USC. However, she keeps her parents close to her heart. Margie is a beach lover as well as in her everyday life, inspires her.