A former professional squash player from Ireland who made history “loves what the US has to offer” young sportspeople hoping to follow in her footsteps and excel in the game.

Madeline Perry has had an illustrious career, reaching the quarter-finals of the World Open in Belfast in 2006 and winning the Irish Open in 2007. The “best victory of her career” came in 2009 when she defeated then-ranked No.1 Nicol David in the quarter-final of the British Open.

She reached a career-high world ranking of No.3 in 2011. The 47-year-old from Co Down didn’t stop there. In 2014, she made squash history as the oldest female player to retain a top 10 position, when she was ranked No. 9 in the world. Madeline retired a year later before moving stateside, where she is currently Director of Squash at The Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr, near Philadelphia.

“Nicol David was No.1 throughout my career – she was virtually unbeatable,” Madeline told IrishStar.com. “The British Open is a major tournament so to be in the quarter-finals was a massive moment in my career.

“It was a hard decision to retire. Being a professional athlete is the best job in the world and I didn’t want to stop but I felt good in my decision. I’d done all I could and was satisfied with what I’d achieved.

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