Sarah Fitz-Gerald
An Australian squash powerhouse whose relentless athleticism and five world championships dominated the sport in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Born 1968 (age 58)·Australian squash player·Birthday: December 1·Generation X
Biography
Sarah Fitz-Gerald emerged from Melbourne with a ferocious will to win that reshaped women's squash. Her game was built on formidable physical conditioning and a tactical mind that could dismantle opponents. After turning professional, she methodically climbed the ranks, but it was from 1996 to 1998 that she established a staggering dynasty, capturing three consecutive World Open titles. A serious knee injury in 1999 threatened to end her career, but her comeback story became a defining part of her legacy. She returned to the summit of the sport, adding two more world crowns in 2001 and 2002, a testament to her resilience. Fitz-Gerald's rivalry with fellow greats like Michelle Martin and Cassie Campion was the centerpiece of the tour, drawing new attention to the sport's intensity. She retired while ranked world number one, leaving behind a record of 80-month tenure at the top spot and a reputation as one of the most complete and determined athletes to ever step on a court.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Sarah was born in 1968, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Sarah Was Born
The biggest hits of 1968
#1 Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey
Best Picture
Oliver!
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Sarah's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1968Born
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 50
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 58 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the World Open squash championship five times (1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002).
- Held the world No. 1 ranking for a total of 80 months during her career.
- Was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2004.
- Awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 and made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2022.
Did You Know?
She was also a talented Australian Rules football player in her youth.
Her 1999 knee injury was so severe she was told she might never walk properly again, let alone play professionally.
She served as President of the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA).
After retiring, she became a respected coach and commentator for the sport.
“I trained to be the fittest and smartest player on that court.”
