April Ross

April Ross is only one of the beach volleyball players to have won medals multiple times at an Olympics. In Tokyo in the coming days, she'll try to net her third medal alongside the first-time Olympian Alix Klineman. But more than that, Ross hopes to win her very first Olympic gold. Since she's 39 years old and has a long way to go, this could be her last shot. Still confident, however. Ross declared on NBC Boston: "If we perform our best and playing well I believe we can be able to win gold." That's why I'm taking a little bit of luck as well. Ross was born in the city of Costa Mesa, California in the year 1982. Her parents and her sister lived in the area. Ross was a competitive athlete in a variety of activities while at Newport Harbor High School. She competed in basketball and track in addition to her volleyball skills in the indoors as a pre-collegiate athlete. She was definitely the best in the game of indoor volleyball. During her high school career she played middle blocker outside setter and hitter in the court for volleyball, according to her college bio. She was named the Gatorade National Circle of Champions player of the year in 1999 for her achievements. In 2000, the Orange County Athlete of the Month award was also won by her in volleyball. While Ross and Klineman have been doing their thing since 2017, the former was already an established athlete on the beach prior to their team. It's true that she has been able to win multiple events, and one was won by the legendary player of volleyball. For six years from 2007 until 2013, she was a team together with Jennifer Kessy who more recently was Klineman's coach. Together with Kessy Ross was an ace on the international stage, claiming the world championship in 2009. The duo were awarded silver medals at the London Olympics. Misty May, Kerri Walsh and Kerri Jennings were the trio to beat for the gold. Ross Jennings took over for May-Treanor when she retired. They won bronze in beach volleyball in the Rio Olympics in 2016. Ross was a college 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 as a professional. Ross's Trojans experience was amazing. When she was a freshman in 2000 the Trojans' performance earned her the Pac-10 and NCAA the Freshman of the Year award. The Trojans also reached the Final Four. In her sophomore year, she suffered a tremendous personal setback but managed to repeat as an All-American. Over the course of the two years she played for the Trojans she was instrumental in helping them to win two consecutive titles. She had established herself as an all-time great winning the 2003-04 Honda Sports Award as the nation's top female collegiate volleyball player. Ross studied International Relations at USC. Margie Ross was not able to see Ross achieve beach volleyball's top stage. Ross's mother died of breast cancer while she was a sophomore at USC. She continues to cherish her parents who passed away. Margie, on the beach as well as in her everyday life, continues to inspire her.