By Chris Smith, National Teams Manager
This July, six American squash players are part of the US contingent competing in the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Pan American Games are a regional version of the Olympic Games (held every four years and always the year before the Olympic Games) that includes the Olympic Program sports and others that are not part of the Olympics. Since the first Pan Am Games, held in Buenos Aires in 1951, the Games have been held in cities in every corner of the region. Over the past 50 years, the event has doubled in number of countries, athletes, and sports, becoming one of the main events in the world’s sports calendar.
The main source for any edition of the Pan American Games is the sports program of the next Olympic Games. Therefore, the XV Pan American Games Rio 2007 will contain all 28 sports of the 2008 Beijing Games, in China. Sports not included in the Olympic Games can be voted for inclusion by the host committee of the Pan Am Games. Squash, which was has been part of the Games since 1995, was voted into the Rio Games in September 2005 with World Squash Federation officials on hand, giving squash another global boost in the eyes of the International Olympic Committee. With Squash about to be in its fourth consecutive Pan American Games, the WSF’s campaign to get the sport into the Olympics is strengthened.
The Pan American Games are as close to the Olympics as an athlete can get without actually being in the Olympic Games. The Games resemble each other closely, from the colorful Opening and Closing Ceremonies and world class athletes, to the patriotic spirit all the athletes show as they fight for the gold. Team USA Squash players who have competed in the past have had lifetime experiences while participating in these Games, and they have been successful in their medal counts. Team USA Squash has won 10 medals in the three previous Pan Am Games, including Latasha Khan’s Bronze in 1999 and Individual Gold in 2003; Demer Holleran’s individual Silver medals in 1995 and 1999; Preston Quick‘s individual Bronze in 2003; and the USA Women‘s Silver medals in 1995 and 1999. This summer, Team USA is putting forth one of its most competitive Men’s and Women’s teams ever. The US women have defending Pan Am Gold medalist Latasha Khan playing No. 2 behind current World No. 5 Natalie Grainger. Playing No. 3 for the women is two-time Collegiate Squash Association Champion Michelle Quibell, who is in the finest form of her career. The women are hoping to achieve Team Gold for the first time, while earning a second consecutive individual Gold. The Women’s main competition should come from Canada and their No. 1 Runa Reta, and Mexico with their star, Samantha Teran.
On the Men’s side, the team is led by Julian Illingworth, who just became the highest PSA ranked American in the history of US squash at No. 55. Christopher Gordon, currently at No. 70 on the PSA tour, will be at the No. 2 spot. At No. 3 will be Jamie Crombie, who made the team after an amazing year on the CherryPharm Team USA Tour. These three have extensive international experience including Crombie’s Pan Am campaign in 1995 when he won individual Bronze (for Canada!). The Men’s team looks to win a team medal for the first time at the Games but will have to fend off a tough Canadian team led by 2003 individual Gold winner Shahier Razik. However, Canada will be without former World No. 1 Jonathon Power. Mexico and Brazil, led by Eric Galvez and Rafael Alarcon respectively, will pose stiff competition to the men’s medal chances.
Expectations are high, and Head Coach Chris Walker will be leading the teams through their week of individual and team events while you follow both teams live with player blogs, photos, and updates on the Team USA Squash website, www.usasquashteam.com.
