Ganim, 50, of Westerville, OH, is most accomplished in doubles competition, where he is considered among the best left-side players to have played the sport. He reached the finals of the U.S. National Doubles Championships U.S. Team Qualifying division eight times with four different partners, winning the national title four times, all with Dan Obremski.
Ganim also has a distinguished international doubles record. He captured doubles gold on the sport’s grandest stage at the 1999 Pan American Games. He also won gold in doubles at the 1988, 1990 and 1992 International Racquetball Federation World Championships. He medaled three times in United States Olympic Festivals, including gold medals in doubles in 1990 and 1991. His international success continued with gold medals in the 1990 and 1999 Tournament of the Americas (now referred to as the Pan American Racquetball Championships).
In addition to his open level and international accomplishments for which he is being inducted, Ganim has won 10 doubles age division titles at National Doubles, plus two singles age-division gold medals at the UnitedHealthcare US OPEN and the IRF Senior World Championships. Further, over the past 20 plus years, Ganim has contributed greatly to the sport of racquetball through his development and leadership of its greatest championship, the US OPEN. Additionally, he has served the industry as an executive for HEAD/Penn racquetball for the past 28 years and as the President of the Ohio Racquetball Association for the past 25 years.
"Doug Ganim is one of the best players to ever step on a racquetball court in doubles," remarked Larry Haemmerle, President of USA Racquetball. "While his many accomplishments on the court are being celebrated with this induction, his contributions in so many facets of racquetball are truly impressive. On a personal level, I enjoy the personal and professional relationship I have with Doug. I have a great deal of appreciation and admiration for the work that he does for our sport."
“It is truly an honor to receive this prestigious recognition,” remarked Ganim. “I have been blessed to have the sport of racquetball in my life since the age of 14. On court accomplishments have been fun but it is really all the great people I have had the pleasure to meet and know over the years that have brought me the most joy. Nearly all my best friends in life have come from the sport of racquetball!”
Ganim will be inducted into the Racquetball Hall of Fame at a ceremony tentatively scheduled for the evening of Saturday, May 28, 2016 in conjunction with the U.S. National Singles Championships being held in Denver, Colo. Scheduled to attend the ceremony include his wife of 24 years, Mary Beth, and sons Doug Jr. (age 22) and Logan (age 20).
About the Racquetball Hall of Fame: Founded in 1973, the USA Racquetball Hall of Fame honors the sport's greatest players and contributors. Player inductees are honored for excellence as Professional, Amateur Open, Amateur Age and/or Outdoor players. In total, 57 of the sport's greatest champions have been enshrined over the 40+ year history of the Hall of Fame. Nominations for the Hall of Fame are annually due no later than September 15. More information is available at USARacquetball.com.
About USA Racquetball: USA Racquetball, founded in 1969, is recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport. The organization annually conducts six national championships and sanctions hundreds of tournaments for players of all ages and skill levels. The organization also organizes the Adult and Junior National Racquetball Teams, oversees the Official Rules of Racquetball, administers National Player Rankings, manages a college scholarship program, and supports the introduction of new players to the sport. USARacquetball.com; Facebook.com/USARacquetball
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