Isabelle Bramhall has announced her retirement from elite singles racketlon.
Great Britain’s Bramhall retires at the peak of her career, having reached the final of the World Championship in 2019.
She also sits at No.5 on the all-time list of Women’s Elite Singles title winners, with 12 – including four at Super World Tour level.
“I hope I will Inspire other people”
Speaking about her decision, Izzy said: “The pinnacle of my career came in 2019 in Germany with the team gold and individual silver. To do that at 50 was impressive so I want to finish my individual career on that high
“I hope to still be involved playing some elite doubles, mentoring some of the younger players and working with Duncan to help develop Racketlon.
“Since I started playing Racketlon I have had 2 lots of foot surgery resulting in 7 bits of metal in both my feet, shoulder surgery, elbow and 2 knee operations, the latter resulting in a partial replacement on my right knee. So to win the medals and titles I have over the past few years, I hope, will inspire other people who get injured not to give up and, with hard work, motivation and self-discipline, it is possible to return to racketlon.”
Isabelle Bramhall’s Superb Career
Izzy has said herself that the pinnacle of her career came in Leipzig in 2019. Her career has been packed with amazing moments, from her first title in 2010 right up to her last in 2019.
The first time she lifted an international trophy was at the IWT PLANANCY English Open back in 2010. But it was 2011 when she really emerged. In that year she won four titles, including the King of Racketlon, Swiss Open, German Open. The last of her four came as she retained the English Open title.
While she never reached No.1 in the singles world rankings, she has spent a long period of time at No.2. She also reached No.1 in the Women’s Doubles ranking for seven weeks, something she could still achieve again.
Most impressive is perhaps her consistency over the last decade. Given all the injuries she has suffered, to have been regularly winning titles is a sensational achievement.
Her standing in the sport was demonstrated last summer when she was invited to be one of the ‘Meet the Stars’ guests. This series was reserved for the very best players in the sport’s history.
“The sport has so much to offer and I am very thankful for the experiences I have had”
While Izzy will still remain a keen part of the racketlon community, she had time to reflect on her time so far. “The sport has so much to offer and I am very thankful for the experiences I have had, the people I have met and the worldwide friends I have made through racketlon,” she said.
“It is not the complete end, just time at nearly 52 to finish the singles career I have had and hopefully help the current and next generation of female players, rather than myself having to rally endlessly in table tennis, pick shuttles off the floor on my side of the net in badminton, frantically chase squash balls and embark in long, chess-like tennis rallies.”
Everyone at the FIR would like to congratulate Izzy on her elite singles career. We look forward to seeing her return on a doubles court soon.
Sam Barker / FIR Media Officer
