Jennifer Saunders

Biography

Date of Birth

1976

Birthplace

Thompson, Manitoba

Residence

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Home Club

University of Winnipeg Duckworth Centre

Coach

Corey Osborne

Equipment

Racquet – Pro Kennex

As a veteran of Racquetball Canada’s national teams, Jennifer Saunders has competed for Canada on twenty eight occasions, winning twelve medals for Canada at the World Championships and seven at the Pan Am Championships. She was a key contributor to the bronze medal won in the Team Event by Canada in racquetball at the 2015 Pan Am Games. Saunders represented Canada at the 2003, 2011 and 2015 Pan Am Games and is a member of the 2019 Pan Am Games team. She competed in the World Games in 2009 and 2013. Saunders has won the Canadian Women’s Single Championship title eleven times in the last eighteen years, most recently at the 2019 championships. In addition, she has won the Canadian Women’s Open Doubles Championship title thirteen times times in just seventeen years. Saunders’ combined twenty four titles gives her the record for the most national combined titles won in Racquetball Canada history. Her record of success at the national level is remarkable, with twenty podium finishes in open singles (11 gold, 8 silver) and 17 podium finishes in open doubles (13 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze). In 2021, Saunders was inducted into the Manitoba Sport Hall of Fame. In 2009, Saunders was selected as the Manitoba Female Athlete of the Year. She was also the recipient of Racquetball Canada’s Women’s Award in 2000.

Q&A

Update coming soon!

Start in Racquetball: I went to a learn to play clinic at the Thompson courts.  My mom and I saw the advertisement in the local newspaper.  I joined the junior program and started traveling to tournaments in Winnipeg and Brandon  I had played hockey and the courts were in the same building so I had seen them and wanted to try it out.  Of course as a kid, I tried every sport possible. 

Reason for playing:   I like that it’s an individual sport.  I get to take every shot.  I also like the extremeness of it for a racquet sport.  It’s fast and aggressive. 

Training habits: I go to the gym first thing every morning.  I do strength, conditioning and quickness work.  I go to the courts in the late afternoon to either drill or play matches.  I pay close attention to what I eat. 

Best Racquetball moment or memory: Winning my first National title in 2002 is pretty memorable.  Winning silver at the 2012 World championships was good – 10 years after making my first Worlds final.  I am still working on one or two of those memorable moments. 

Non-Racquetball Talents:  Crossword puzzles, sports trivia. 

When you are not playing Racquetball you are probably: Watching the Winnipeg Jets play.  Golfing. 

What is something that people might not know about you or find surprising? I have a hole-in-one in golf. 

What advise to you have for athletes who want to play at your level?  Make sure you are always having fun.   Surround yourself with positive people who believe in you.  If you really want it – be disciplined and purposeful with your plan. 

Who has been important in your development as an racquetball athlete?  Coach Ron Brown – helped me understand racquetball at the elite level.  Trainer AJ Zeglen – helped me learn what it takes to train as an elite athlete. 

Highlights

Bronze Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games Women’s Team Event
Bronze 2016 World Championships Women’s Doubles
Silver 2012 World Championships Women’s Singles
Bronze 2012 World Championships Women’s Team Event
Silver 2010 World Championships Women’s Team Event
Bronze 2008 World Championships Women’sSingles
Bronze 2008 World Championships Women’s Team Event
Bronze 2006 World Championships Women’s Singles
Silver 2006 World Championships Women’s Team Event
Bronze 2004 World Championships Women’s Doubles
Silver 2004 World Championships Women’s Team Event
Silver 2002 World Championships Women’s Singles
Silver 2002 World Championships Women’s Team Event
Bronze 2019 Pan Am Championships Women’s Doubles
Bronze 2016 Pan Am Championships Women’s Doubles
Bronze 2012 Pan Am Championships Women’s Doubles
Silver 2010 Pan Am Championships Women’s Singles
Bronze 2008 Pan Am Championships Women’s Singles
Silver 2004 Pan Am Championships Women’s Singles
Bronze 2002 Pan Am Championships Women’s Singles
Gold 2019 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Singles
Gold 2019 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Doubles
Gold 2018 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Singles
Gold 2018 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Doubles
Silver 2017 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Singles
Silver 2017 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Doubles
Gold 2016 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Singles
Silver 2016 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Doubles
Gold 2015 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Singles
Gold 2015 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Doubles
Gold 2014 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Singles
Gold 2014 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Doubles
Gold 2013 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Singles
Gold 2013 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Doubles
Gold 2012 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Singles
Gold 2012 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Doubles
Gold 2011 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Singles
Gold 2011 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Doubles
Gold 2010 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Singles
Silver 2010 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Doubles
Gold 2009 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Singles
Gold 2009 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Doubles
Silver 2008 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Singles
Silver 2008 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Doubles
Silver 2007 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Singles
Gold 2007 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Doubles
Silver 2006 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Singles
Gold 2006 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Doubles
Gold 2005 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Singles
Gold 2005 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Doubles
Silver 2004 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Singles
Gold 2004 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Doubles
Silver 2003 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Singles
Gold 2003 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Doubles
Gold 2002 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Singles
Bronze 2002 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Doubles
Silver 2001 Canadian Championships Women’s Open Singles