Alix Klineman celebrates after her beach volleyball team defeated Team Australia for a gold medal during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. (Photo/JTA-Sean M. Haffey-Getty) Sports Stanford alum wins beach volleyball Olympic gold in Tokyo Facebook Twitter Email SMS WhatsApp Share By Emily Burack, JTA | August 6, 2021 After failing to make the indoor volleyball team for the 2016 Olympics, Alix Klineman decided she would switch her sport to beach volleyball. She explained, “I looked at the beach as a new opportunity and a chance to chase my dreams without anybody having to give me approval or put me on a roster.” The decision has paid off: At her first-ever Olympics in Tokyo, the Jewish athlete took home gold with partner April Ross. Seeded second in the beach volleyball tournament, the team defeated an Australia duo 21-15, 21-16. Klineman and Ross dropped only one set in the entire tournament. “I still don’t know if I really ever expected this to come true,” said Klineman. “It feels like such a fairy tale.” Klineman, a 31-year-old California native who attended Stanford University, was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Hall of Fame in 2015. Emily Burack JTA correspondent JTA Content distributed by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency news service. Also On J. Sports All the Jewish athletes to watch at the Tokyo Olympics Sports Let the games begin: Bay Area well represented on U.S. roster for 19th Maccabiah Sports All the Jewish athletes who have won medals at the Tokyo Olympics Jewish, Israeli athletes march into Hitlers stadium for first European Maccabi Games in Germany Subscribe to our Newsletter Enter Email Sign Up
“I still don’t know if I really ever expected this to come true,” said Klineman. “It feels like such a fairy tale.” Klineman, a 31-year-old California native who attended Stanford University, was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Hall of Fame in 2015.