Amelie Guziak has a voracious appetite for competition and the need to test herself against the best in the world.
The 16-year-old reckons she was born on a squash court.
“I have never played another sport,” she said. “I was taken to watch my dad play when I was three or four and fell in love with it right then.
“I have been on the court ever since. I started playing in competitions when I was 10 years old.”
Guziak was identified by Squash Australia early in her career and given a scholarship to the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS). She plays for the RACV club and is coached by former world number one squash player Cassie Thomas.
“I didn’t have a coach for nine months which in retrospect helped me grow,” she said. “I had to work out my own tactics to beat my opponent and not rely on someone else to tell me.
“I had to become more creative.”
She did however, struggle during this time to combat her mental demons.
“I got very anxious and struggled with my performances,” she said. “I was burned out. I turned to Paul Price, a performance specialist and former squash champion, within three months I was
feeling good and back in control of my game.”
Being selected to represent Australia in the World Junior Squash Championships last month is the pinnacle of her career to date.
It meant she was ranked in the top six players in the country and to make the teams event was even better because she was then ranked in the top four.
Australia finished in the top eight for the first time in 20 years. She is currently ranked number one in Australia in the under 17’s and number two in the female junior rankings overall.
Guziak has a gruelling training regime where she trains and plays five days a week.
She believes that it is the VIS strength and conditioning program that has seen her rise up the rankings.
“I am much physically stronger, have better agility and endurance,” she said. “I love nothing better than bringing myself to complete exhaustion following a fitness session.
“I am just the most competitive person! My strengths are my fitness and work ethic. I am skilful and disciplined. My focus and mental strength are also critical for me.”
The world championships was her second big event in a short period of time, having been part of a Squash Australia tour group that went to England ??? to play in the British Junior Open Squash Tournament last year.
It was her first international experience.
“I wasn’t nervous or intimidated, I had nothing to lose so I went onto the court to test myself against the world’s best,” she said.
“The experience was invaluable. I think it definitely helped me during the recent World Championships. I wasn’t nervous, I felt I belonged, and I was driven to succeed.”
The year 10 student at Keilor Downs Secondary College has some big goals in the near future.
“My short-term goals are to knock out a top seed in a Professional Squash Association event
and win the under-19 Australian Junior Championships.
“I’d like to go back to the British Junior Open and make it to the final. Longer term, I’d like to build my world ranking, and improve in stages to the top 50, top 20 and to be world number one.”
Guziak is the August nominee for the Don Deeble Sports Star Award which is sponsored by the Yarraville Club Cricket Club, Strathmore Community Bank, the Deer Park Club, Ascot Vale Sports and Trophies and Star Weekly Newspapers.
If you would like to nominate a monthly winner or attend a dinner, contact swrsportsclub@gmail.com or 0408 556 631.
