WORLD SQUASH NEWS

Sarah Fitz-Gerald Awarded Order Of Australia

Australia's five-time world squash champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald has been awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division.

The award, announced in Australia on Australia Day (26 January), was given for services to women's squash, particularly as a player, and the promotion of sport and a healthy lifestyle.

Fitz-Gerald described the award as "a huge honour" in what has been an illustrious career. 

"It is way up there with anything else I've achieved," said the former world No1.  "It is also a great honour as an Australian and I will always cherish this."

Fitz-Gerald said she intended to return to Australia in late April or early May to attend the Order of Australia medal ceremony.

Fitz-Gerald, regarded by many as the finest female squash player of all-time, withdrew from the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA) World Tour in February 2003 after winning every honour available to her.

In a record breaking 2002, she won the Commonwealth Games gold medal in England; extended her WISPA World Tour haul to 61 titles; helped Australia to reclaim the Women's World Team Championships and then went on to successfully defend the World Championship title for a record fifth time.

Fitz-Gerald, from Melbourne, stunned the sports world by scoring a remarkable double at the 2002 Australian Sports Awards - winning both the Female Athlete of the Year and the prestigious Dawn Fraser Award for the overall sports personality of the year, ahead of the likes of Lleyton Hewitt and Ian Thorpe.