Susan Devoy
| Full name | Susan Elizabeth Anne Devoy |
|---|---|
| Born |
4 January 1964 Rotorua, New Zealand |
| Retired | 1992 |
| Plays | Right handed |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (April 1984) |
Dame Susan Elizabeth Anne Devoy DNZM CBE (born 4 January 1964) is a former New Zealand squash player who dominated the sport in the late 1980s and early 1990s. She won the World Open on four occasions.
In March 2013, she was appointed to the position of Race Relations Commissioner for New Zealand.
Born in Rotorua, New Zealand, Devoy attended MacKillop College. Her family was very involved in the squash community and she started playing when she was very young. Devoy turned professional at the age of 17. Her first World Open title came in 1985, with a subsequent win in 1987. Further World Open titles came in 1990 and 1992. For most of her career, the World Open was held biennially, a fact that stopped Devoy potentially doubling her tally. She did, however, win the coveted British Open eight times, a record only beaten by Heather McKay in the 1960s/70s and by Janet Morgan in the 1950s.
In 1992, the year of her unexpected retirement, she was the Australian, British, French, Hong Kong, Irish, New Zealand, Scottish, Swedish and World squash champion.
In the 1986 New Year Honours, Devoy was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, and elevated to Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1993 Queen's Birthday Honours. She is also noted for her charity work, being the New Zealand Patron on the Muscular Dystrophy Association. In 1988 she walked the entire length of New Zealand, over seven weeks, and raised $500,000 for that charity. Other achievements include being named New Zealand Sports Person and Sports Woman in 1985.
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