For all of Geoff Hunt’s squash dominance, he thinks his efforts off the court docket might need made the largest influence on the Olympics-bound sport.
The Australian will probably be honoured at a ceremony in Melbourne subsequent Monday alongside Paralympic skier Michael Milton as Sport Australia Corridor of Fame Legends.
It is the final word honour for an Australian athlete and never misplaced on the 77-year-old, who reckons it is a bit daunting to hitch the corporate of Daybreak Fraser, Sir Donald Bradman, Ian Thorpe, Cathy Freeman and Shane Warne.
That is likely to be how Hunt’s opponents felt throughout a 215-tournament profession that netted him 178 titles.
Initially a eager tennis participant, the Melbourne product gave squash a go and immediately fell for it.
It wasn’t till he coached in England, Qatar and on the Australian Institute of Sport that he learnt how he ought to have ready his physique for the gruelling sport that proved an excessive amount of for his again when compelled to retire at 35.
“We had been a bit naive about the best way to put together your physique correctly; in my day you simply gun it and see what you are able to do,” he advised AAP.
“There was no considered professionalism within the early days however now it is expanded worldwide; you possibly can go anyplace on the planet they usually play.
“And as we speak they’re doing a reasonably good job of televising the professional tour.”
Having fun with retirement on the Gold Coast, Hunt has saved a eager eye on the game’s globalisation as a result of he was among the many gamers who began it.
His exhibition matches in opposition to high-profile Brit Jonah Barrington, who Hunt largely beat, had been the spark plug for the skilled motion.
Narrowly lacking entry on the Sydney Olympics 24 years in the past, squash will lastly earn a begin in Los Angeles in 2028, sarcastically after dropping a spot on the scaled-backed Commonwealth Video games the place it had been a staple.
“As a participant — concerned within the participant affiliation on the very starting — we shaped it, developed it and it is come a good distance,” Hunt stated of the skilled circuit.
“I really feel in a means I’ve achieved one thing, establishing the world rating system … lastly been picked up by the Olympics and I am fairly pleased with that course of.
“Prior to now with sports activities like squash there was no authorities growth, it was nearly a personal enterprise factor they did not wish to contact.
“However it’s occurring now with the assorted packages, notably within the areas, creating new services.”
Hunt’s profession got here earlier than squash’s Commonwealth Video games chapter, though he did attend as a coach.
“I’ll always remember strolling into the stadium in Kuala Lumpur (1998) with the workforce,” he stated.
“The environment was electrical; I’ve by no means skilled something like that and taking part in for a workforce it is particular, you possibly can’t beat that.
“To be a part of a workforce that wins an Olympic gold, there would not be something higher than that, actually.”
AAP
