April Ross

April Ross is only one of only a handful of beach volleyball athletes to win medals multiple times at an Olympics. Alix Klineman is the newest Olympian who will be joining her at Tokyo. Ross hopes to win her Olympic debut gold however, she also hopes for even more. At 39, it could be her last chance to accomplish this. But she's still convinced of winning top awards. Ross, via NBC Boston, said that if the team plays consistently or well it could be able to win gold. That's why I'm taking the chance as well. Ross was born on the 22nd of October, 1982. She was raised in Costa Mesa California where she lived with her parents and sister. Ross was a competitive athlete in a variety of sports during her time at Newport Harbor High School. When she was a student in the prep school she played basketball, indoor volleyball and track. Though she excelled when playing indoors however, it was evident that her abilities were higher than average. As per her biography, during high school she played volleyball as an outside setter (middle blocker) as well as a setter (outside blocker). Thanks to her hard work she was named in 1999 as the Gatorade International Player of the year in Circle of Champions. In 2000, the Orange County Athlete of the Month was also received by her in volleyball. Although Ross and Klineman have been doing their thing since the year 2017, Klineman had already been a major participant on the beaches prior to their team. Actually Ross has been a winner of several significant tournaments during her time together with two other partners. One of them is a legend. For six years from 2007 until 2013, she was a team with Jennifer Kessy who more recently was Klineman's coach. Together together with Kessy Ross, she won a World Title in 2009 while competing on the international circuit. They were awarded a silver medal during the 2012 Olympic Games held in London. Misty May Treanor and Kerri Jennings, the team of legends which was the winners of the 2012 Olympics in London, took each other to take home the gold. Ross Walsh was Walsh Jennings new partner after May-Treanor's departure. They won the bronze medal in beach volleyball at Rio Olympics 2016. Ross played for the Trojans of USC during her college days, years before becoming a professional. Ross had an impressive run through the NCAA tournament. When she was a freshman at the school in 2000 she played her way to Pac-10 as well as NCAA Freshman of the Year accolades. She also earned an All-American. The Trojans had the chance to make it to the Final Four with her help. She was devastated through a tragedy in her life during her second year, but she managed to become an All-American again. In her last two seasons with the Trojans program, she guided them to a national title every time. In 2003-2004, she was named the top collegiate female volleyball player in the United States by the Honda Sports Award. Ross majored at USC in International Relations. Margie Ross, Ross' mother, never had the opportunity to see her daughter become the beach volleyball's biggest star. When Ross was a sophomore studying at USC her mother passed away from breast cancer. She still holds her mother very dearly. Margie is a source of inspiration both in her personal life and at the beaches.