As her opponent’s serve rippled the net, April Ross sank to the sand and hugged her partner, Alix Klineman.
The beach volleyball stars embrace after every point, win or lose. But this clasp was a little tighter and a lot more jubilant. Ross had just won Olympic gold at her third attempt, restoring American dominance on the sand court.
The 39-year-old is the first beach volleyball player to claim an Olympic medal with three different partners. She won silver with Jen Kessy in London and bronze in Rio with Kerri Walsh Jennings. Her teammate in Tokyo, Alix Klineman, switched from volleyball to the sandier version after failing to make the 2016 US Olympic team. Ross needed a new partner after splitting in 2017 with Walsh Jennings, a three-time gold medallist, who was embroiled in a contract dispute with the main professional league.
“I think people should realise what a risk April took taking me on as a partner,” the 31-year-old said. “She felt how badly I wanted this… I think she saw something in me that no one else did, I’m so grateful she was looking at my potential and took that bet on me.”
The Olympics were years away but Ross was eying gold in Tokyo when she connected with the 6ft5in Klineman. “I took a lot of care in talking to her and practicing with her and just everything that she said and did was really impressive, it was a no-brainer,” she said.
While convenient for US prime-time television viewers, the start time of 11.30am on Friday in Tokyo made the enclosed, steep-sided arena feel like a giant grill. One reading indicated an on-court temperature of 129F (54C). Given that would have made Shiokaze Park as hot as Death Valley and counted as among the highest temperatures ever recorded on earth, that number was hard to believe.
Whatever the true figure – likely closer to 100F (38C) – it was unreasonable to expect athletes to compete in these conditions for the benefit of broadcasters, though the losing pair had no complaints, only observing that the humidity affected the flight of the ball during serves.
At least the match was mercifully brief, as April and Alix – when you’re this elite, you get to be known by your first names – dispatched the Australian duo, Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Taliqua Clancy, by two sets to none, 21-15 and 21-16, in 43 minutes.
The Californians dropped only one set in seven matches in Tokyo and reclaimed gold for the US women, whose streak of three successive Olympic titles ended in Brazil. Since beach volleyball was introduced in Atlanta ’96 the US have won seven out of a possible 14 men’s and women’s gold medals. “It means a lot to uphold that tradition,” Ross said.
Among the viewers back home was Mr T, who signalled his support for the other “A-Team” on Twitter. “We started to take on their vibe. We have a tank top with an A-Team quote,” Ross said.
“We knew he was following along,” added Ross, who was a young child in the TV show’s Eighties heyday. “I definitely know who Mr T is and all the gold chains he wears around his neck.” Now she has some golden designer jewellery of her own.