Cornell University Athletics

Alexia Clonda, who joined the Cornell squash program as an assistant coach in September 2025, brings over 35 years of elite squash experience to Cornell from Australia, where she competed at the highest levels of international competition and has since dedicated her career to coaching and athlete development.

Clonda enjoyed a celebrated professional playing career, reaching a career-high world ranking of No. 5 and achieving the No. 1 junior world ranking. She claimed both the Australian Junior Championship (1978) and British Junior Championship (1979) before representing Australia at both junior and senior levels throughout the 1980s. Her competitive achievements include semifinalist finishes at both the World Open (1983) and Australian Open, as well as a quarterfinal appearance at the British Open (1982). She also reached a highest Australian ranking of No. 2 and held the No. 1 ranking in New South Wales.

Competing on the international stage, Clonda served as team captain of the Australian junior team in 1978 and New South Wales team from 1981-86. She was also a member of the 2006 Australian Commonwealth Games Team. She continued competing at a high level, reaching the quarterfinals of the 2007 Australian Closed Championships. Throughout her playing career, she won multiple state championships, including New South Wales Open Champion and New South Wales Open Under-23 Champion (1982, 1983) and Queensland Under-23 Champion (1982).

Beyond her on-court success, Clonda demonstrated exceptional leadership within the squash community. She served as Chairwoman of the Women's International Squash Players Association (WISPA) from 1985-89, having been a foundation member since 1983, and was a member of the International Squash Racquets Federation Women's Committee, also from 1985-89. She also served as a selector for both the Australian Squash Racquets Association (1986-89) and New South Wales (1986-89), and held roles on the New South Wales Women's Squash Rackets Association as Committee Member and Publicity Officer (1982-83).

Clonda was honored with the 2000 Australian Sports Medal for services to squash and received the Sport Australia Award for Outstanding Performance with the 1984 Australian Women's Squash Team. She was also an Australia Sports Commission National Athlete Award Scheme honoree in 1985-86.

What makes Clonda's achievements particularly remarkable is that she reached world-class status despite managing life-threatening asthma and other significant health challenges throughout her career. This experience has shaped her unique approach to coaching, leading her to become a certified Breathing and Mindset Coach in addition to her squash coaching credentials.

Clonda holds US Squash Level 2 and 3 Coaching Certifications and US Level 3 Professional Squash Referee certification. She previously served as a World Squash Federation Level 1 Coaching Tutor/Instructor and holds WSF Level 1 and 2 Coaching Certificates. Her holistic approach to athlete development is supported by her Bachelor of Sports Science and specialized certifications including Neuro Linguistic Programming, Buteyko Breathing Instructor, Oxygen Advantage Breathing Instructor, and ThetaHealing Practitioner/Teacher qualifications. She is also a Certified Sports Presenter & Assessor and Mentor.