Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Joanna Guelas

'Give it a crack': squash great eyes Olympics comeback

Squash great Rachael Grinham has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

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).

Former world number one squash player Rachael Grinham
Rachael Grinham says she's stunned to be recognised in the Australia Day Honours list. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

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.

Rachael Grinham at the Commonwealth Games in 2022
A former world champion, Grinham has won numerous titles and gold medals for Australia. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

"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.

Former world number one squash player Rachael
Rachael Grinham admits donning the green and gold at the LA Olympics is a long shot. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

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."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.