- Born:
- Dec. 1, 1968, Melbourne, Vic., Austl. (age 57)
Sarah Fitz-Gerald
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Who is Sarah Fitz-Gerald?
Sarah Fitz-Gerald, born in Melbourne on December 1, 1968, is an Australian squash player who dominated the sport in the early 21st century. Her mother, a four-time Australian Open squash champion and coach, recognized Fitz-Gerald's potential early when she won the 1987 world junior championship. After some time in the lower ranks, she won the JSM Supersquash in Japan in 1995, defeating Michelle Martin.
Fitz-Gerald reached the top spot in the world rankings in October 1996 and won her first World Open. After her retirement from the WISPA world tour in February 2003, she was inducted into the WISPA Hall of Fame.
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Which sport is Sarah Fitz-Gerald famous for playing?
Sarah Fitz-Gerald is an Australian athlete renowned for her dominance in squash during the early 21st century. Her career highlights include winning the world junior championship in 1987, reaching the top spot in world rankings in October 1996, and winning her first World Open that same year.
Fitz-Gerald's squash accomplishments include four Australian Open titles, five World Open titles, and two consecutive British Open titles. In 2002, she won 12 tour events and a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. She retired from the Womenâs International Squash Players Association (WISPA) world tour in February 2003 and was inducted into the WISPA Hall of Fame a month prior.
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What are some of Sarah Fitz-Geraldâs major achievements in her sport?
Sarah Fitz-Gerald is an Australian squash player who dominated the sport in the early 21st century. Winning the world junior championship in 1987, she later secured the top spot in world rankings in October 1996, also winning her first World Open. Fitz-Gerald retained her world title in 1997 and 1998. After recovering from knee surgery, she won her fourth World Open in 2001, equaling the record.
Her achievements include winning 12 tour events in 2002, a second consecutive British Open, a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, and a record-breaking fifth World Open title. She retired from the Womenâs International Squash Players Association (WISPA) world tour in February 2003 and was inducted into the WISPA Hall of Fame one month prior to her retirement.
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How many world championships has Sarah Fitz-Gerald won?
Sarah Fitz-Gerald is an Australian squash player who dominated the sport in the early 21st century. In October 1996, Fitz-Gerald reached the top spot in the world rankings and won her first World Open. She retained her world crown in 1997 and again in 1998. In October 2001, she won her fourth World Open, equaling the record. In 2002, she won her second consecutive British Open, the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, and a record-breaking fifth World Open title. Fitz-Gerald was inducted into the World Squash Federation, Squash Australia, and Victorian Squash Federation halls of fame and was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2004.
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How did Sarah Fitz-Gerald influence Australian squash?
Sarah Fitz-Gerald significantly influenced Australian squash through her performance and leadership. After winning the world junior championship in 1987, she climbed the ranks, reaching world number one in October 1996. Fitz-Gerald secured multiple World Open titles (1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002), and British Open titles and won gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2002.
Fitz-Gerald was also a superb ambassador for squash. In 1991, at age 23, she became president of the Womenâs International Squash Players Association (WISPA), a position she held until she was made âpatronâ upon her retirement from the tour. She was inducted into the World Squash Federation, Squash Australia, and Victorian Squash Federation halls of fame and was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2004.
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What has Sarah Fitz-Gerald done for squash after retiring from professional competition?
After retiring from professional competition in February 2003, Sarah Fitz-Gerald continued to contribute to squash. She had already been president of the Womenâs International Squash Players Association (WISPA) since 1991 and upon retiring from the tour, she was made WISPA's "patron". Even after leaving the world tour, Fitz-Gerald won the Welsh Open, her fourth Australian Open (matching her motherâs record), and the first Australian national championship in the first half of 2003. Fitz-Gerald was inducted into the World Squash Federation, Squash Australia, and Victorian Squash Federation halls of fame and was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2004.
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Sarah Fitz-Gerald (born Dec. 1, 1968, Melbourne, Vic., Austl.) is an Australian squash rackets player who dominated the sport in the early years of the 21st century and retired at the top of her game.
Fitz-Gerald grew up in Melbourne. Her mother was a four-time Australian Open squash champion who became a coach. Fitz-Geraldâs potential was apparent when she easily won the world junior championship in 1987. For a few years she languished in the lower reaches of the world top 10, but in September 1995 she broke through at the richest event of that year, the JSM Supersquash in Japan. In the five-game final she beat her longtime Australian rival, Michelle Martin, who was then dominating the tour.
In October 1996 Fitz-Gerald, who was known for her punchy attacking style, reached the top spot in the world rankings and beat Englandâs Cassie Jackman to win her first World Open. She retained her world crown with a victory over Martin in 1997 and again in 1998 before surgery on a troublesome knee could not be avoided. A premature return led to her losing the whole of 1999, while 2000 was marked by her gradual rehabilitation.
She returned to full strength the next season, however, and a loss to New Zealandâs world number one, Leilani Joyce, in the semifinals of the Hong Kong Open in August 2001 was her last competitive defeat. From then until her âretirementâ 18 months later, Fitz-Gerald was unbeaten. In October 2001 she won her fourth World Open, equaling the record of New Zealander Susan Devoy.
In February 2003 Fitz-Gerald announced her retirement from the Womenâs International Squash Players Association (WISPA) world tour. The surprise announcement by the number one-ranked Fitz-Gerald came one month after she was inducted into the WISPA Hall of Fame and brought to a close the most successful period in her career: in 2002 she won 12 tour events (bringing her career total to 61), her second consecutive British Open, the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, and a record-breaking fifth World Open title. A month after her announcement, she was named Female Athlete of the Year for the second straight time by the Australia Sport Awards, which also had honoured her with the Dawn Fraser Award as sports personality of the year in 2002.
Fitz-Gerald was a superb ambassador for squash. In 1991, at age 23, she had become president of WISPA, a position she held until she was made âpatronâ upon her retirement from the tour. Fitz-Geraldâs decision to take her career in a new direction, however, did not diminish her drive to play and win. In the first half of 2003, even after she quit the world tour, she won the Welsh Open, her fourth Australian Open (matching her motherâs success), and the inaugural Australian national championship.
Fitz-Gerald was inducted into the World Squash Federation, Squash Australia, and Victorian Squash Federation halls of fame and was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2004.
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