Leilani Rorani (formerly Joyce, née Marsh; born 15 April 1974) is a New Zealand former

squash Squash most often refers to: * Squash (sport), the high-speed racquet sport also known as squash racquets * Squash (plant), the fruit of vines of the genus ''Cucurbita'' Squash may also refer to: Sports * Squash (professional wrestling), an extr ...

player. During her professional career, she reached the world number 1 ranking, won the

British Open The Open Championship, often referred to as The Open or the British Open, is the oldest golf tournament in the world, and one of the most prestigious. Founded in 1860, it was originally held annually at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. Later th ...

in 1999 and 2000, and finished runner-up at the World Open in 2000 and 2001.

Early life and family

Born Leilani Marsh in

Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: * Alexander Hamilton (1755/1757–1804), first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States * ''Hamilton'' (musical), a 2015 Broadway musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda ** ''Hamilton'' (al ...

on 15 April 1974, Rorani is the daughter of Neal and Maise Marsh (née Reihana). Of

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...

descent, she affiliates to

Ngāti Hine Ngāti Hine is an Māori iwi (tribe) with a rohe (tribal area) in Northland, New Zealand. It is part of the wider Ngāpuhi iwi. Its rohe (tribal area) covers the areas of Waiomio, Kawakawa, Taumarere, Moerewa, Motatau, Waimahae, Pakara ...

Ngāi Te Rangi Ngāi Te Rangi or Ngāiterangi is a Māori iwi, based in Tauranga, New Zealand. Its rohe (tribal area) extends to Mayor Island / Tūhua and Bowentown in the north, to the Kaimai Range in the west, south of Te Puke and to Maketu in the east. ...

, and the

Tainui Tainui is a tribal waka (canoe), waka confederation of New Zealand Māori people, Māori iwi. The Tainui confederation comprises four principal related Māori iwi of the central North Island of New Zealand: Hauraki Māori, Hauraki, Ngāti Maniapo ...

confederation. She was educated at

Church College of New Zealand Church College of New Zealand (CCNZ) was a private secondary school in Temple View, Hamilton, New Zealand, that was operated by the Church Educational System of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It was closed at th ...

, and is a member of

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Restorationism, restorationist Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, denomination and the ...

. She married Paul Joyce, but the couple later divorced. In 2002, she married Blair Rorani in the

Hamilton New Zealand Temple The Hamilton New Zealand Temple (also known as the Hamilton Waikato Temple and formerly as the New Zealand Temple) is the 13th constructed and 11th operating Temple (LDS Church), temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The in ...

. They have four children.

Squash career

In the early part of her career, she was known by her maiden name, Leilani Marsh, and competed in the 1996 World Open as the number 14 seed under that name. Following her first marriage, she competed as Leilani Joyce, and then was known as Leilani Rorani in the latter stages of her career. As a junior player, Rorani won the New Zealand under-13, under-15, under-17 and under-19 championships, the Australian under-17 and under-19 championship, and the

Oceania Oceania ( , ) is a region, geographical region including Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Outside of the English-speaking world, Oceania is generally considered a continent, while Mainland Australia is regarded as its co ...

under-19 championship. During her 12-year career on the international tour, Rorani won 16

WISPA Wispa is a brand of chocolate bar manufactured by British chocolate company Cadbury. Using aerated chocolate, the bar was launched in 1981 as a trial version in North East England, and with its success it was introduced nationally in 1983. I ...

titles. She also won four New Zealand national titles. She was named Māori Sportsperson of the Year twice, and New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year in 2000. Rorani retired from the professional tour in 2002, after winning gold medals in both the women's doubles and mixed doubles at the 2002

Commonwealth Games The Commonwealth Games is a quadrennial international multi-sport event among athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations, which consists mostly, but not exclusively, of territories of the former British Empire. The event was first held in 1930 ...

Honours

In 1990, she was awarded the

New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal The New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal was a commemorative medal awarded in New Zealand in 1990 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, and was awarded to 3,632 people. Background The New Zealand 1990 Com ...

. In the

2001 New Year Honours The 2001 New Year Honours List is one of the annual New Year Honours, a part of the British honours system, where New Year's Day, 1 January, is marked in several Commonwealth countries by appointing new members of orders of chivalry and recipie ...

, Rorani was appointed a

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit () is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have ...

, for services to squash.

References

External links

* *
Leilani Joyce at Squashpics.com

Mormon.org profile
* * * * , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Rorani, Leilani 1974 births Living people New Zealand female squash players Commonwealth Games gold medallists for New Zealand Commonwealth Games gold medallists in squash Squash players at the 1998 Commonwealth Games Squash players at the 2002 Commonwealth Games World Games bronze medalists for New Zealand Sportspeople from Hamilton, New Zealand New Zealand Latter Day Saints Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit Ngāti Hine people Ngāi Te Rangi people Tainui people New Zealand Māori sportspeople People educated at the Church College of New Zealand Medallists at the 2002 Commonwealth Games Medalists at the 1997 World Games

Early life and family

Squash career

Honours

See also

References

External links