Kris Odegard

Athlete (2018)

Racquetball

Kris Odegard is one of Canada's most decorated athletes in racquetball, competing in the sport for more than 25 years.

Odegard started playing racquetball in Saskatoon at age 6. As a junior athlete, he won 15 medals at the national level, including nine gold. He competed at the world junior championships 10 times, winning eight medals and five world junior titles.

At seniors, Odegard won two Canadian single titles, two doubles titles, two mixed doubles titles and was on the podium seven other times.

Although an injury almost ended his career at age 18, Odegard became a fixture on the Canadian national team. He competed at the Pan Am championships, the Pan-American Games and the world championships, travelling from Dublin, Ireland to Seoul, Korea to Santiago, Chile. He won 14 medals in international competition, with two gold, five silver and seven bronze. Odegard retired from competition in 2012.

He has helped to develop training materials for coaches and athletes. He has taught at clinics, made instructional videos and assisted in writing learn-to-play and teaching manuals for provincial associations and the Canadian Racquetball Association.

"I have always tried to do my best on and off the court,” Odegard said.