Kris Odegard – Hall of Fame

Accomplishments

Kris Odegard’s competitive career spanned a period of close to twenty-five years. His sport story is an example of commitment and sheer determination, not only accomplishing great things but also overcoming adversity.

Odegard started playing at a very young age and competed at his first Junior Canadian Championships at age nine. Only two years later, he made his first appearance at the 1991 Junior World Championships, finishing 4th in the 10 & U boy’s singles and doubles events. That only fueled the fire for Odegard and when he finished on the podium at the 1992 Junior World Championships, he began a string of wins that lasted through his junior career, winning eight medals in total from 1992 to 1998 (5 gold, 3 silver), some of which were won in Mixed Doubles with partner and sister Karina Odegard.

In the late 1990’s, as Odegard was leaving the junior ranks, his goals were put on hold after experiencing a debilitating injury.  At the time of the injury he was one of the top junior athletes internationally and well on his way to success as an elite athlete in Canada.

Odegard made it back onto the podium at the national level in 2004, earning a spot on the National Team. In 2006 he competed for Canada at his first elite international tournament winning gold at the Pan Am Championships in singles and contributing to the silver medal won by the Men’s Team.

After first representing Canada in elite competition in 2006 until his retirement in 2012, Odegard was selected to every international team that represented Canada. In total he competed for Canada at the international level on eleven occasions. He was on the podium at every international event he competed in, winning a total of fourteen medals (2 gold, 5 silver, 6 bronze) during his elite career.  When Odegard retired, he was at the top of his game, winning silver in Men’s Singles at the 2012 World Championships.

Odegard had eleven podium finishes (5 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze) in Open events at the Canadian Championships. Odegard won his first Canadian Championship Open title in Mixed Doubles with his sister Karina Odegard he was only sixteen. He also won the Canadian Men’s Open singles title on two occasions and held the Men’s Open doubles championship title twice.

Odgard received a scholarship to play racquetball for the University of Southern Colorado where he contributed to several collegiate championship titles.

Odegard gave back to the sport in many ways. He made significant contributions to Racquetball Canada with his extensive work with the Long Term Athlete Development Plan which still guides athlete development.

He provided an important voice for athletes as the Racquetball Canada representative to AthletesCAN.

He served on the Board of Directors for 5 years at the national level and in Saskatchewan for 3 years. He also worked with several provincial associations and with Racquetball Canada supporting high performance and development programs for athletes.

Other Awards

Odegard was inducted into the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

Click here to read Kris Odegard’s acceptance speech from the Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Career Highlights

2012

• World Championships: SILVER – Men’s Team Event
• Canadian Championships: 4^th – Men’s Open Singles
• Canadian Championships: 4^th – Men’s Open Doubles

2011

• Pan Am Games: BRONZE – Men’s Doubles
• Pan Am Championships: BRONZE – Men’s Doubles
• Canadian Championships: BRONZE – Men’s Open Singles
• Canadian Championships: GOLD – Men’s Open Doubles

2010

• World Championships: SILVER – Men’s Team Event
• Pan Am Championships: BRONZE – Men’s Singles
• Canadian Championships: 4^th – Men’s Open Singles
• Canadian Championships: GOLD – Men’s Open Doubles

2009

• Pan Am Championships: BRONZE – Men’s Singles
• Pan Am Championships: 4^th – Men’s Team Event
• Canadian Championships: GOLD – Men’s Open Singles
• Canadian Championships: 4^th – Men’s Open Doubles

2008

• World Championships: 5^th – Men’s Doubles
• World Championships: BRONZE – Men’s Team Event
• Pan Am Championships: BRONZE – Men’s Singles
• Pan Am Championships: BRONZE – Men’s Team Event
• Canadian Championships: BRONZE – Men’s Open Singles
• Canadian Championships: 4^th – Men’s Open Doubles

2007

• Pan Am Championships: SILVER – Men’s Singles
• Pan Am Championships: GOLD – Men’s Team Event
• Canadian Championships: GOLD – Men’s Open Singles
• Canadian Championships: 4^th – Men’s Open Doubles

2006

• World Championships: SILVER – Men’s Team Event
• Pan Am Championships: GOLD – Men’s Singles
• Pan Am Championships: SILVER – Men’s Team Event
• Canadian Championships: BRONZE – Men’s Open Singles
• Canadian Championships: BRONZE – Men’s Open Doubles

2005

• Canadian Championships: SILVER – Men’s Open Singles
• Canadian Championships: 4^th – Men’s Open Doubles

2004

• Canadian Championships: SILVER – Men’s Open Doubles

2000

• Canadian Championships: 4^th – Men’s Open Doubles

1999

• Junior World Championships: GOLD – 18 & U Mixed Doubles
• Junior Canadian Championships:  SILVER – 18 & U Boy’s Singles

1998

• Junior World Championships: GOLD – 18 & U Mixed Doubles

1997

• Junior World Championships: GOLD – 16 & U Boy’s Singles
• Junior Canadian Championships: GOLD – 16 & U Boy’s Singles

1996

• Junior World Championships: GOLD – 18 & U Mixed Doubles
• Canadian Championships: GOLD – Mixed Open Doubles
• Junior Canadian Championships: GOLD – 16 & U Boy’s Singles
• Junior Canadian Championships: SILVER – 18 & U Boy’s Doubles 

1995

• Junior World Championships: SILVER – 14 & U Boy’s Singles
• Junior Canadian Championships: GOLD – 14 & U Boy’s Singles
• Junior Canadian Championships: GOLD – 14 & U Boy’s Doubles

1994

• Junior World Championships: SILVER – 14 & U Boy’s Singles
• Junior Canadian Championships: GOLD – 14 & U Boy’s Singles
• Junior Canadian Championships: GOLD – 14 & U Boy’s Doubles 

1993

• Junior World Championships: GOLD – 12 & U Boy’s Singles
• Junior Canadian Championships: GOLD – 12 & U Boy’s Singles 
• Junior Canadian Championships: GOLD – 14 & U Boy’s Doubles

1992

• Junior World Championships: SILVER – 12 & U Boy’s Doubles
• Junior Canadian Championships: SILVER – 12 & U Boys Singles 

1991

• Junior World Championships: 4th – 10 & U Boy’s Singles
• Junior World Championships: 4th – 10 & U Boy’s Doubles
• Junior Canadian Championships: GOLD – 10 & U Boy’s Singles