April Ross

April Ross is one of just a handful of female beach volleyball players to get medals from multiple Olympics. Alix Kallineman is set to compete alongside April Ross Tokyo to take home her third gold medal over the next few days. Ross's goal is to win her first Olympic Gold. And at the age of 39, it could be her final chance to accomplish this. She is still confident but she is not sure. Ross has told NBC Boston that he believes that if the team plays their best, or even an excellent game, they'll win the gold. In addition, I'm planning try to be a little lucky. Ross, who was born 1982 and was raised within Costa Mesa California with her mother and sister, first began taking part in athletics at the Newport Harbor High school. In Newport Harbor High School, she played in a variety of different sports. She was a basketball player and also ran tracks in addition to her indoor volleyball exploits as a pre-collegiate athlete. She was evidently the best when it came to indoor volleyball. According to her bio, she played an outside blocker as well as a middle hitter on the volleyball court throughout her high school career. In recognition of her work, she was honored as an 1999 Gatorade The Circle of Champions' National Player of Year. The skills she showed in volleyball also earned her an Orange County Athlete of the Award in the year 2000. Ross and Klineman are working together in 2017. In reality, Ross was an already a well-established athlete in the volleyball world prior to Klineman and Ross joined forces. She actually won multiple major tournaments with two other partners, one that is also the volleyball legend. From 2007 until 2013, she was teaming with Jennifer Kessy, who is the coach she is currently. Kessy as well as Ross proved to be an impressive force on the world circuit, winning the world championship in 2009 together. They won a Silver Medal from the 2012 Olympic Games held in London. Misty Maytreanor's iconic team as well as Kerri Jennings took home the gold. Ross Jennings was Walsh Jennings partner in fate when Maytreanor decided to retire. The two went on take home the bronze medal for beach volleyball in the Rio Olympics in the year 2016. Ross was a college player at USC Trojans prior to beginning making the jump to professional. She was a player in high school and in some years prior to going to the beach for professional. Her time through the institution was one to remember. As a freshman in 2000 she played her way to Pac-10 as well as NCAA Freshman of the Year recognition and was an All-American. The Trojans made it to the Final Four. Her sophomore year was the time she experienced a devastating personal loss but still managed to make it back as an All-American. Through her final two years with the Trojans, she helped them to win two consecutive titles. For her part, she cemented her place as a legend by winning the Honda Sports Award for 2003-04. The award was presented to the highest female collegiate player in the country. Ross majored in international relations at USC. Unfortunately Ross mom Margie was not able to witness her daughter ascend to the most elite levels of beach volleyball fame. In 2001 when Ross was a sophomore studying at USC her mother passed away of cancer of the breast. She holds her mom close to her heart. In addition, Margie continues to be an motivation for her at the beach as well as in everyday her everyday life.