Australian squash identity Carin Clonda’s courage in
overcoming a range of serious illnesses has seen her awarded a
prestigious New South Wales sport award.
Clonda, the CEO of NSW Squash and the Ambassador for the Australian
Lung Foundation, has been named as the 2008 winner of the Sue Fear
Award for Courage and Achievement.
The Sue Fear Award commemorates Australia’s leading woman
mountaineer, who died while climbing on Mount Manaslu in Nepal in
2006.
The annual award recognises the courage and determination of women
involved in sport, with nominees overcoming significant obstacles to
achieve success and recognition.
Clonda reached the elite level of her sport despite a history of
health problems that would have overwhelmed most people.
She was introduced to squash at 13 years of age and later went on to
win Australian and NSW championships in the U15, U16 and U17 age
groups.
She became the first and only Australian woman to win the British
Junior Open championship, which at that time was effectively the
world title.
However, in 1978 she was diagnosed with chronic asthma, fighting for
her life to the point where she was being treated through a mask
every half hour.
A year and a half later, after putting on about 56 pounds from the
treatment, she set her sights on competing in squash again.
Her determination saw her reach the quarter-finals of the British
Open a few years later and maintain a top 16 world ranking, rising
to a career high of No.5.
But soon after she underwent surgery to remove a tumour from her
leg, then had further operations to fuse the bones in the base of
her spine, threatening her chances of ever playing squash again.
Defying the odds, Clonda got back on court and won the NSW Classic
Open, finished second in the World Open Plate and became the top
ranked woman’s player in New South Wales.
She was then hit by chronic fatigue syndrome and her immune system
crumbled.
She was told she was the “worst asthmatic in Australia”, but her
dedication to treatment saw her go on to win further titles while
still battling infections, a dislocated pelvis and a recurring
tumour.
This year Clonda was crowned the NSW Masters over 45 Champion and
played in the Sydney Premier Grade competition.
She was presented with the award by NSW Minister for Sport Kevin
Greene at the eleventh annual Sydney Schoolgirls’ Breakfast with the
Stars, attended by more than 750 girls from 48 high schools.
The breakfast was hosted by Womensport NSW.
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NSW Sports Minister Kevin Green with Carin Clonda
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Nov
2008, Australia: