Australian squash royalty Rachael Grinham is considering a remarkable bid to compete at the 2028 Olympics.
With the sport to make its Olympic debut at the 2028 LA Games, former world No.1 Grinham says her chances are slim – but not zero.
The 48-year-old isn’t ruling out putting her hat in the ring, but says she’ll do it “with not much expectation”.
Grinham is among sportspeople feted in this year’s Australia Day Honours list, appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
The same honour has been bestowed on former Wallabies coach John Connolly, with New Zealand’s motorsport great Jim Richards made an honorary Member.
Olympic legend Cathy Freeman is one of 10 people appointed the highest honour, a Companion (AC) of the Order of Australia.
Former Matildas coach Alen Stajcic has also been honoured with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).
Grinham, who readily admits she has “slowed down” since competing at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, said receiving the honour was surreal.
The Toowoomba product already boasts a decorated resume including four British Open crowns at the “Wimbledon of squash” competition, plus a world title and two Commonwealth Games gold medals.
“It’s nice to win something again for a while – forgotten what it feels like,” Grinham told AAP with a laugh.
“We have got a long history of legends of the game in Australia but, unfortunately, squash has died a bit in Australia.
“It’s nice to still be recognised. And we’re hoping that with the fact that squash has been included in the LA Olympics, that it’s becoming more visible to everyone again.”
Squash joined the LA program on the fifth time of bidding for an Olympic berth, after being axed from this year’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Rugby sevens, hockey, T20 cricket, badminton, triathlon, beach volleyball, mountain biking, road cycling, rhythmic gymnastics, shooting, table tennis and wrestling were also left out of the slim-line 2026 Glasgow event.
Grinham said her unlikely Olympics berth would depend on the qualification process for countries, given the women’s and men’s competitions would consist of just 16 players.
“If I am playing a bit more and playing well, I probably could be around the five to seven rank in Australia – but I’m not,” said Grinham, who was ranked women’s world No.1 for 16 months from August 2004.
“Who knows? I’m almost 50-years-old. I never know how I’m going to feel from day to day.
“It’s pretty slim. But I’ll probably throw myself out there. I can give it a crack but with not much expectation.”
https://thewest.com.au/news/awards/give-it-a-crack-squash-great-eyes-olympics-comeback-c-21419799
