Learning was never structured for me. I started playing when I was two. I would go to the gym with my dad who played regularly. I 'd get on the court and play when he would go for a drink of water or something. When I was four they shaved down the grip on a racquet so I could hold it. I can't even tell you why I loved being on the court, I just knew I enjoyed it. It was always about sports for me.
Kane WaselenchukI know that it's not all about me. It's about the sport. I never want to be bigger than racquetball. I just want to get up in the morning, have my coffee, turn on ESPN or TSN and see racquetball.
Kane WaselenchukI'm not being used to create the trickle down effect in racquetball, unlike Tiger Woods being used to create such effect in golf. If you go to the IRT website, you don't know that I'm champion. I mean you'll see my image but you'll not know what I've done in the sport. Although, me being Canadian makes it difficult for them to embrace me as champion. I don't know, it feels like we take 10 steps forward and 8 back in racquetball.
Kane WaselenchukI argued for years to have the Canadian anthem played at the US Open Racquetball Championship and on the 11th year, I got it. I teared up a bit when I heard the anthem. It was a highlight of my career, better than some of my wins.
Kane WaselenchukNo matter what I do I'll always be Canadian. What happened with me being banned was not about the sport of racquetball, but about the organisation. Why am I going to allow people who are irrelevant to sway me? I'll never turn my back on Canada. I'm proud to be Canadian.
Kane WaselenchukRacquetball was always number one but when our first child was born things I thought I cherished weren't as important. You put yourself in a position to win, but now you're extra careful. Because I never wanted my kids to see me losing. I wanted them to remember me winning...thought that would be cool.
Kane Waselenchuk