April Ross

April Ross has won more than one Olympic gold medal. Ross is among the few women beach volleyball athletes to be able to do so. In Tokyo over the next several days, she'll be aiming to net her third medal alongside first-time Olympian Alix Klineman. Ross also hopes to get her very first Olympic medal. At 39 this may be her last opportunity to accomplish this. But she's convinced that top honors are firmly within reach. If we perform at our very top or perform well, I think we'll win the gold medal Ross said via NBC Boston. In addition, I'm planning put my faith in a touch of luck. Ross was born in California, Costa Mesa in 1982. Her parents and her sister were residents in the area. Ross was a competitive athlete in a variety of activities while at Newport Harbor High School. Her pre-athletic career comprised indoor volleyball as well as basketball, track and running. Though she excelled in indoor volleyball however, it was evident that her performance was above normal. According to her bio, she was a middle blocker and outside volleyball player during her high-school career. Thanks to her hard work, she was honored as an 1999 Gatorade International Player of the year in Circle of Champions. The skills she showed in volleyball also won her an Orange County Athlete of the Years trophy in the year 2000. Although Ross and Klineman are in the spotlight from 2017 onward, the former was already a big-time participant on the beaches prior to their team. In fact, she's been able to win multiple tournaments, including one with a legendary volleyball player. From 2007 to 2013 she played by Jennifer Kessy, who is currently her coach. Ross, Kessy's fellow teammate who won the world title alongside Kessy in 2009 was also an important player on the an international level. The duo would go on to win a silver at the 2012 Olympic Games at London. They were beaten out 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 retirement. They won the bronze medal in beach volleyball at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Ross was a Trojans player for the USC during her college days, prior to becoming a professional. Ross's playing time with the Trojans was remarkable. The year 2000 was her freshman year. was when she won the Pac-10 as well as NCAA Freshman's of award and become an All-American. Her performance also assisted in helping the Trojans reach their first Final Four. After her sophomore year, she experienced a terrible personal loss, yet managed to earn the honor of being named an All-American. In her last two seasons as a player, she led the Trojans to the summit winning successive national titles. In her own way she established herself in the history books by winning the Honda Sports Award for 2003-04. This prize was awarded to the most outstanding female college volleyball players across the country. Ross was a major in the field of international relations in USC. Unfortunately, Ross mother Margie never got to see her daughter ascend to the very top of beach volleyball superstardom. Ross's mother passed away from cancer of the breast in 2001. Ross had just become an undergraduate student in the second year at USC. In the aftermath, Ross remains close to her parent who died. Margie remains a source of inspiration, both off and on of the beach.