April Ross

April Ross is one of just a handful of female beach volleyball athletes to win medals at many Olympics. In Tokyo over the next several days, she'll be aiming to net her third medal with fellow the first-time Olympian Alix Klineman. Ross also hopes to get her first Olympic medal. With her age of 39, this may be Ross' last chance to win an Olympic gold. She's certain that the top prizes are within reach. Ross declared on NBC Boston: "If we do our best and even If we play our best I believe we can get the gold medal." This is also an issue of luck. Ross was born in California in Costa Mesa, California in 1982. She lived here with her mother, father and younger sister. Ross competed in many sports while attending Newport Harbor High School. Being a pre-athlete she was also a participant in indoor track and volleyball. In the last sport she was clearly the standout. According to her bio her high school days, she was a volleyball player as an outside hitter (middle blocker) as well as a setting (outside blocker). In recognition of her work she was named the 1999 Gatorade Circle of Champions National Player of the Year. She also received an Orange County Athlete of the of the year for volleyball. Ross and Klineman have been doing what they do in the year 2017. But, Ross was an important player in the world of beach volleyball before the pairing. She actually won several major championships while playing using two partners, among them an icon of volleyball. Between 2007 and 2013, she was partnered by Jennifer Kessy, who is currently her coach. Kessy was Ross's co-coach at the World Championships of 2009. The duo would go through to take home a silver medal in the 2012 Olympic Games at London. The Misty Maytreanor legendary team and Kerri Jennings were the winners of gold. Ross Jennings took over for May-Treanor as she left the team. They both went on to take home the bronze medal in beach volleyball in the Rio Olympics 2016. They were joined by Walsh Jennings. Ross played for the Trojans of USC in her college the years prior to her professional career. Ross had an impressive run in the NCAA tournament. In 2000, as a freshman Her performance was rewarded with the Pac-10 as well as NCAA Freshman-of-the-Year honors. The team also saw her help in helping the Trojans reach the Final Four. Her sophomore year was the time she was devastated by a personal setback, but she was able to be a second All-American. Through her final two seasons with the Trojans, she helped them achieve consecutive championships. She had established her place as a legend by winning the 2003-04 Honda Sports Award as the most outstanding female college volleyball player. Ross was a student at USC in International Relations. Margie Ross was never able to witness her daughter's rise to fame as a beach volleyball player. Ross's mom died from cancer of the breast in the year 2001. Ross had just become a second-year student at USC. She is devoted to her late parent. Margie is a beach lover as well as in everyday life, inspires her.