Racquetball Canada Announces World Championships Team
WINNIPEG (August 1, 2024) – Racquetball Canada is pleased to announce the team for the upcoming World Championships, set to take place in San Antonio, USA, from August 23 to 31, 2024.
This year’s team is comprised of seasoned athletes, each with international experience and many with notable success on the world stage.
“The 2024 World Championships is another exciting opportunity for Canada’s best racquetball athletes to compete at the highest level,” said Jennifer Saunders, Racquetball Canada’s High Performance Director. “We have more experience and are more prepared than ever. Alongside our coaching staff, I look forward to supporting each athlete in bringing their best performances to the World stage,” Saunders added. “With the tournament being held close to home, we are excited to have family and friends in Texas cheering us on. Their encouragement only makes us stronger.”
Canadian athletes have the opportunity to qualify for the 2025 Chengdu World Games at the World Championships. Results from the Team Competition will be used to determine the nations who qualify.
The World Championships will be streamed on the Pan Am Sports Channel and the IRF YouTube Channel and Facebook Page, beginning with the Opening Ceremony on August 23.
For more details about each athlete, including their competitive highlights, please visit the athlete biographies by clicking on the athlete’s name.
Women's Team
Frédérique Lambert – Women’s & Mixed Doubles
Frédérique Lambert, the most experienced athlete on the team, will make her 20th appearance at the elite international level during the 2024 World Championships. Lambert has an impressive track record with podium finishes at four World Championships, including a silver in Mixed Doubles and a bronze in Women’s Doubles at the 2022 championships. She also earned a bronze medal at the 2015 Pan American Games in the Women’s Team Competition. Over her career, Lambert has accumulated 11 international medals, beginning with a bronze at the 2008 Pan American Championships. At the National Championship level, she has won 22 medals, and holds 6 Canadian Women’s Open Singles Championships titles and 5 Women’s Open Doubles titles.
Juliette Parent – Women’s Doubles
As the youngest member of the team, Juliette Parent has quickly gained significant international experience. Since 2021, she has represented Canada in five international tournaments and recently won her first elite international medal in Mixed Doubles at the 2024 Pan American Championships. Parent is also a strong contender at the national level, having won silver in Women’s Singles at both the 2023 and 2024 National Championships. She has five National Championship podium finishes in singles and doubles.
Christine Keay – Women’s Singles
Christine Keay made her international debut at the 2012 Pan Am Championships, winning bronze in Women’s Doubles. Since then, she has competed in seven international events, including the 2015 Pan American Games, where she helped secure a bronze in the Women’s Team Competition. Keay’s top international singles performances came at the 2014 and 2016 World Championships, reaching the round of eight. Domestically, she has consistently medaled at the National Championships since 2010 and holds three Canadian Women’s Open Doubles titles and has amassed 19 National Championship medals overall.
Danielle Ramsay – Women’s Singles
Danielle Ramsay has competed for Canada at six elite international events, earning a bronze medal in Women’s Doubles at the 2019 Pan Am Championships. At the 2024 Pan American Championships, Ramsay contributed to a fourth-place overall team finish. She earned her first national podium result in 2019, winning bronze in Women’s Open Singles at the National Championships. Ramsay holds two Canadian Women’s Open Doubles Championship titles and has medaled 11 times at the National Championships.
Men's Team
Samuel Murray – Men’s & Mixed Doubles
Samuel Murray is set to represent Canada for the 17th time. He earned his first international medal, a bronze in men’s singles, at the 2016 World Championships. Recently, at the 2024 Pan American Championships, Murray won three medals: silver in Men’s Doubles and Men’s Singles, and bronze in the Men’s Team Competition. At the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, he won silver in both Men’s Doubles and the Men’s Team Competition. In 2022, Murray won gold in Men’s Doubles at the Pan American Championships. In total, Murray has earned eight international medals. He is ranked in the top 10 on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) and has won two pro-tour events, including a Grand Slam in 2019. Domestically, he has reached the podium 20 times and holds six consecutive titles as the reigning Men’s Open Singles Canadian Champion, along with six Canadian Men’s Open Doubles titles.
Coby Iwaasa – Men’s Doubles
Coby Iwaasa has represented Canada at 12 international events, debuting at the 2014 Pan Am Championships. He has competed in three Pan American Games, winning silver in Men’s Doubles and the Men’s Team Competition at the 2024 Games, and bronze in the Men’s Team Competition at the 2015 Games. At the 2024 Pan American Championships, Iwaasa earned three medals: silver in Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles, and bronze in the Men’s Team Competition. He was part of the silver-winning team at the 2022 World Championships in the Men’s Team Competition and won bronze in Men’s Doubles. Iwaasa has consistently reached the podium at every National Championships he has competed in. He holds four Men’s Canadian Championship Open Doubles titles and one Men’s Open Singles title, with a total of 18 National Championship medals.
Kurtis Cullen – Men’s Singles
Kurtis Cullen has shown exceptional dedication to racquetball, rising through the national team ranks. His first international appearance was at the 2022 World Championships, where he helped secure a silver medal in the Men’s Team Event. Recently, he competed at the 2024 Pan American Championships, contributing to a bronze medal in the Men’s Team Event. In February 2024, Cullen achieved his first podium finish on the International Racquetball Tour, winning silver in doubles. At the 2023 National Championships, Cullen won gold in Men’s Open Doubles and bronze in Men’s Open Singles. He continued his success at the 2024 National Championships. earning another bronze in Men’s Open Singles.
Trevor Webb – Men’s Singles
Trevor Webb first represented Canada at the elite international level at the 2018 Pan Am Championships. Since then, he has competed at two more international tournaments. At the national level, Webb has medalled four times in Men’s Open Doubles, winning a Canadian Championship doubles title in 2024 and 2017, and earning bronze in 2023 and 2019. His best finish in elite singles competition was fourth place.
Team Staff
Michel Gagnon – Head Coach
Michel Gagnon has coached Team Canada in elite international competitions over 35 times, most often serving as the Head Coach. Under his leadership, Canada has achieved numerous podium finishes, including gold medal results. Gagnon is a multiple-time recipient of the Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Award and has also been honoured with Racquetball Canada’s Ivan Velan Award in the coach category as well as the Coaching Award.
Tim Landeryou – Assistant Coach
Tim Landeryou, a former national team member, began his coaching career even before retiring from competition. As an athlete, he represented Canada in 14 international tournaments, winning 3 Pan American Championship medals and 4 World Championship medals. Nationally, he reached the podium 17 times in both singles and doubles events. The 2024 World Championships marks Landeryou’s first elite international coaching assignment.
Rino Langelier – Assistant Coach
The upcoming World Championships will be Rino Langelier’s fifth elite international assignment as an assistant coach with Team Canada. He has supported athletes in their quest for podium finishes at both the World Championships and the Pan American Championships. Langelier is the recipient of Racquetball Canada’s Ivan Velan Award in the coach category and the Coaching Award. He has also received the Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Award.
Amy Barrette – Therapist
Amy Barrette has been a vital member of the Team Staff since 2021. She has supported athletes at five major international events, including the 2023 Pan American Games. This will be her third World Championship event. Barrett also provides therapy to team members at major national events and offers critical guidance and support outside of competition.
Jennifer Saunders – Team Leader
Jennifer Saunders joined Racquetball Canada in 2020 as the High Performance Director, and brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the team. A well-decorated former national team member, Saunders has been inducted into both the Racquetball Canada and Sport Manitoba Halls of Fame. She represented Canada internationally on 28 occasions. Among her 19 international podium finishes, she earned a bronze medal at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games and 12 World Championship medals. Saunders holds the record for the most Canadian Women’s Open Championship titles, with 11 singles and 13 doubles titles.
