Jennifer Saunders

Jennifer "Jen" Saunders (born November 18, 1976) is a Canadian retired racquetball player from Winnipeg, Manitoba. In her last Canadian Championships in 2019, Saunders won both Women's Singles, for a record extending 11th time, and Women's Doubles, for a 13th time. Her 11 Canadian Women's Singles Championships and 24 combined Canadian Women's Singles and Doubles Championships are Canadian women's records. Saunders was the 2009 Manitoba Female Athlete of the Year as voted by the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. Saunders announced her retirement from competition in December 2019, as she accepted the position of Administrator of High Performance and Sport Development with Racquetball Canada. In July 2020, Saunders was named as one of the 2020 inductees into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame. Personal life Saunders was born in Thompson, Manitoba, to Ed and Ruth Saunders, the youngest of their three girls. Growing up in Thompson, she began playing racquetball at age 10. Saunders moved to Winnipeg to attend the University of Winnipeg, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Activity and Sport Studies in 1999. She was hired by Racquetball Manitoba in 1999 as program coordinator, and she is now their executive director. Saunders was a referee at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, as well as the 2000 World Championships. She was recognized by Racquetball Canada for this work with the Women's Award in 2000 (co-winner with Valari Hendrickson).