Beach volleyball: Three-time Olympic medallist April Ross to retire at end of 2024
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion in women's beach volleyball is retiring at the end of the 2024 season at the age of 42.
Beach Volleyball
Beach volleyball legend April Ross announced her retirement from the sport on Monday, 14 October.
The American won Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020 in 2021 with partner Alexandra Klineman, but after missing Paris 2024 having recently given birth, she has decided to call a close to a legendary career at the age of 42.
In a statement on Instagram, Ross revealed she would stop playing at the end of 2024, saying: “It is with a very fulfilled and grateful heart, and also some tears, that I am announcing my retirement (after the end of this AVP Beach League season). 18 years, 16 seasons, four quads. I’m glad I can say I lived it to the fullest and that it was an absolute BLAST.
“There were lots of ups and a few downs, a lot of it was tough emotionally and mentally, but it was all so rewarding and worth it. What an intensely amazing experience.”
Ross will conclude her 18-year professional career at the end of the 2024 AVP Beach Volleyball League, which concludes with the championship phase on 9-10 November.
Across her career, Ross competed at three Olympic Games and medalled in each one with different teammates for Team USA.
Ross’ Olympic debut was at London 2012 where she won silver alongside Jennifer Kessy, defeated in an all-American final at Horse Guards Parade.
At Rio 2016, she teamed up with three-time Olympic champion Kerri Walsh Jennings in a bid for gold, both earning a new medal colour with bronze in Brazil.
Her golden moment finally came five years later at Tokyo 2020 with Klineman.
Ross and Klineman won in straight sets against Australia’s Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar to seize an emotional gold in Ross’ third and final Olympics.
Named the Top Rookie in 2007, the California native was victorious at the World Championship in 2009, as well as winning 25 World Tour titles during her career.