Danielle Letourneau

{{short description|Canadian professional squash player (born 1993)}} {{BLP primary sources|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox squash player | name = Danielle Letourneau | image = WWTC2014.JPG | caption = Letourneau at the 2014 World Championships (second from right) | fullname = | nickname = | country = Canada | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|5|3}} | birth_place = Calgary, Alberta, Canada | death_date = | death_place = | height = | weight = | turnedpro = 2015 | retired = 2026 | plays = | coach = Omar Azabawy<br />David Letourneau<br />Julee Devoy | racquet = Gearbox 135, Dunlop | website = | event = Women's singles | years_active = | highest_ranking = No. 18 | date_of_highest_ranking = December 2021 | current_ranking = No. 37 | date_of_current_ranking = December 2022 | WorldOpenresult = | titles = | finals = | medaltemplates ={{MedalSport | Women's Squash}} {{MedalCountry | {{CAN}} }} {{MedalCompetition|Pan American Games}} {{MedalSilver | 2019 Lima | Doubles }} {{MedalSilver | 2019 Lima | Team }} | updated = March 2019 }} '''Danielle Catherine Letourneau''' (born May 3, 1993) is a retired<ref name="retired">{{cite web |title=Danielle Ray Bids Farewell to Professional Squash After an Incredible 17-Year Career |url=https://squash.ca/2026/05/danielle-ray-bids-farewell-to-professional-squash-after-an-incredible-17-year-career/ |website=Squash Canada |access-date=2 June 2026}}</ref> Canadian professional squash player. She represented Canada multiple times internationally,<ref name="COC">{{cite web |title=Danielle Letourneau |url=https://olympic.ca/team-canada/danielle-letourneau/ |website=Olympic.ca |access-date=2 June 2026}}</ref> including earning two silver medals at the 2019 Pan American Games in women's doubles and the women's team event and a silver medal in women's singles at the 2024 Pan American Squash Championships. Letourneau reached a career-high world ranking of World No. 18 in December 2021.<ref>{{Squash Info}}</ref>

== Junior and collegiate years ==

Letourneau won three Canadian Junior Championships.<ref name="cdnjrrs">{{cite web |title=Squash Canada - Historical Records - Canadian Junior Championships - Girls Champions |url=https://squashcanada.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/EeDxngjj9INBpvbcJwT_A5EBxSKFu48sPaZssOFvBfAEoQ?e=TwPSjO |website=Squash Canada |access-date=2 June 2026}}</ref> She won Girls U13 in 2006, U15 in 2008, and U19 in 2011. She also won Women's A at the Canadian Championships in 2007, when she was still a junior player.<ref name="natls">{{cite web |title=Squash Canada - Historical Records - Canadian Squash Championships – Women’s Champions |url=https://squashcanada.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/IQDpsfOjJWUCS5pUbwSVjmJjAZBLy62PJHC4T983V4ZIqNw?rtime=hIg_y0_A3kg |website=Squash Canada |access-date=2 June 2026}}</ref>

Letourneau attended Cornell University from 2011 to 2015, and was the #1 player on the women's team all four years there.<ref name="chof">{{cite web |title=Danielle Letourneau |url=https://cornellbigred.com/honors/hall-of-fame/danielle-letourneau/672 |website=Cornell University |access-date=2 June 2026}}</ref> She amassed a record of 42-23, and was selected to both the All-Ivy League first team and All American first team all four years at Cornell. Letourneau was inducted into the Cornell Big Red Hall of Fame in 2025.<ref name=chof />

== Senior career ==

Letourneau was Canadian Women's Open champion twice: in 2018 and 2021.<ref name=natls />

Letourneau was part of Team Canada for the 2019 Pan American Games. She and Samantha Cornett reached the final of the women's doubles event, losing to the USA, resulting in silver medals.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wallace |first1=Camille |title=Day 2 at Lima 2019: Team Canada adds gold to the medal table |url=https://olympic.ca/2019/07/29/day-2-at-lima-2019-team-canada-adds-gold-to-the-medal-table/ |website=Olympic.ca |access-date=2 June 2026}}</ref> Letourneau also got silver in the women's team event, when Canada again lost to the USA in the final.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Johnston |first1=Shelby |title=On Day 5 of Lima 2019, Canada’s artistic swimming team earned two Tokyo 2020 quota spots at Lima 2019. Team Canada ended the day with a total of 51 medals. |url=https://olympic.ca/2019/08/01/day-5-at-lima-2019-records-falls-as-canadians-qualify-for-tokyo-2020/ |website=Olympic.ca |access-date=2 June 2026}}</ref>

She was named to the 2023 Pan Am Games team,<ref>{{cite web |title=Canada’s Santiago 2023 squash team announced |url=https://olympic.ca/press/canadas-santiago-2023-squash-team-announced/ |website=Olympic.ca |access-date=2 June 2026}}</ref> but was unable to compete, and replaced by Nikki Todd.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nikole Todd to join Canada’s Santiago 2023 Squash Team |url=https://squash.ca/2023/09/nikole-todd-to-join-canadas-santiago-2023-squash-team/ |website=Squash Canada |access-date=2 June 2026}}</ref>

Letourneau was runner up in women's singles at the 2024 Pan American Squash Championships to team-mate Nicole Bunyan in the final.

== Personal ==

A knee injury led to Letourneau's retirement.<ref name=retired /> Her brother, David, was also a Canadian Junior Champion<ref>{{cite web |title=Squash Canada - Historical Records - Canadian Junior Championships - Boys Champions |url=https://squashcanada.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/EbeUkUteu4tAvLBpazp0WLoBvEMSn9srl-UxssUmmdfcCQ?e=5PN2qk |website=Squash Canada |access-date=2 June 2026}}</ref> and played pro squash.

Letourneau majored in communications at Cornell with a minor in international relations.<ref name=COC />

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == *{{WSA|id=danielle-letourneau}} *{{SquashInfo|id=4713}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Letourneau, Danielle}} Category:1993 births Category:Canadian female squash players Category:Cornell Big Red women's squash players Category:Franco-Albertan people Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Calgary Category:Sportswomen from Alberta Category:Squash players at the 2019 Pan American Games Category:Pan American Games silver medalists in squash Category:Pan American Games silver medalists for Canada Category:Medalists at the 2019 Pan American Games Category:21st-century Canadian sportswomen Category:21st-century American sportswomen