After suffering pneumonia last spring and taking a long, hard look at her travel and school schedule, Christie Van Hees moved home to her parents' farm, got a golden retriever puppy, a new boyfriend, and took up competitive horseback riding (which she'd given up to begin playing racquetball at 15). Now she rides twice a day, morning and afternoon, and recently graduated with a degree in History. Happier than she's been in a long time, the 24-year-old had this to say about her racquetball career: 

As of the end of the 2001 season I have decided to retire indefinitely from competing in professional and amateur racquetball tournaments. At this time I want to pursue other avenues in life and could no longer give the kind of commitment to the sport that it deserves. I want to thank everyone who supported me along the way, especially HEAD/Penn, my family, Mike Ceresia, and the Canadian National Racquetball Team. Since the age of three this sport has given me memories to fill a lifetime, amazing friends, my education, and the belief that I can achieve anything I put my mind to. These are all things for which I will remain incredibly grateful and why I will continue to encourage everyone and anyone that racquetball is, by far, the best sport in the world.