Tokyo Olympic beach volleyball champion Alix Klineman announced her retirement from the sport via social media on Monday, just weeks after her teammate April Ross declared her own departure. The pair is set to compete together one last time at the upcoming AVP League championship in Carson, California.

April Ross, 42, previously achieved remarkable success in indoor volleyball, helping Southern California secure consecutive NCAA championships before transitioning to beach volleyball. Over her illustrious career, she earned a silver medal in the London Olympics, a bronze in Rio de Janeiro, and a gold alongside Klineman in Tokyo. Last year, she welcomed a son and celebrated her marriage in September.

With a heavy yet grateful heart, Ross shared her retirement announcement on Instagram last month. She expressed her fulfillment in having given her all to the sport, stating, “I lived it to the fullest and that it was an absolute BLAST. At the same time, I’m in disbelief it’s (almost) over; it feels like it went by in a heartbeat.”

Alix Klineman, who played indoor volleyball at Stanford and earned four All-American honors, transitioned to beach volleyball in 2017. She teamed up with Ross and together they struck gold at the Tokyo Games, marking Klineman’s first Olympic appearance.

In her retirement video, Klineman read a heartfelt letter addressed to volleyball, reflecting on the changes in her life since becoming a mother to Theo last year. She emphasized the shift in her priorities and highlighted the challenges of balancing motherhood and her professional career. “It’s no longer just about you, volleyball. It’s not about me, either. It’s about my family. It’s about my priorities. And they’re different now,” she shared. “I thought I could do both — be a mom and play… But I can’t do both the way that I want to do both. To do that, I have to sacrifice the way that I show up for Theo, and I don’t want that.”