36 Facts About Paola Longoria

Paola Michelle Longoria Lopez was born on 20 July 1989 and is a Mexican racquetball player.

Paola Longoria is the current Women's World Champion in Singles and the Team event, winning both divisions at the International Racquetball Federation 2024 World Championships in San Antonio, Texas.

Paola Longoria's style is characterized by a semi-western grip of the racquet, which is unusual for racquetball; Paola Longoria is the only pro player using this grip style.

Paola Longoria began playing racquetball at eight years old when she was at a summer camp, and describes the experience as love at first sight and decided to devote her passion and effort to the sport.

Paola Longoria won eight consecutive International Racquetball Federation World Junior Championships from 2001 to 2008, winning twice in each age category: 12U, 14U, 16U, and 18U.

Paola Longoria won Girls 12U doubles with Eleni Guzman in 2001, and the pair won Girls 14U doubles in 2002 and 2003, as well as Girls 16U doubles in 2005.

Paola Longoria won Girls 14U doubles with Luisa Aldrete in 2004 and she won Girls 18U doubles in 2008 with Arantza Loredo.

Paola Longoria got to her first pro final in May 2007 at the Ektelon Pro Nationals in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Paola Longoria was the 14th seed, but upset 3rd seed Kerri Wachtel in the Round of 16,6th seed Kristen Walsh Bellows in the quarterfinals, 2nd seed Cheryl Gudinas in the semi-finals, before losing to top seed Rhonda Rajsich in the final.

At the 2008 IRF World Championships in Kingscourt, Ireland, Paola Longoria earned bronze medals in both Women's Singles and Women's Doubles.

Paola Longoria won her first US Open title in 2008 as the 5th seed.

Paola Longoria's win was the first US Open title for a Mexican player, as well as the first time a Mexican was in the US Open final.

At the 2009 Pan American Championships in Cali, Colombia, Paola Longoria came away with two medals: bronze in singles and silver in doubles.

At the 2010 Racquetball World Championships in Seoul, South Korea, Paola Longoria earned three medals.

Paola Longoria won gold in Women's Doubles with Samantha Salas at the 2011 Pan American Championships in Managua, Nicaragua.

Paola Longoria won three gold medals for Mexico at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Paola Longoria did not lose an LPRT match from May 2011 to October 2014, a period of three and half years.

Paola Longoria was a double gold medalist at the 2012 Pan American Racquetball Championships in Temuco, Chile, winning both Women's Singles and Doubles.

Paola Longoria was a triple gold medalist at the 2012 World Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, winning Women's Singles, Doubles and the Team event.

Paola Longoria won two medals at the 2013 Pan American Championships in Cali, Colombia, winning Women's Singles and finishing second in Women's Doubles.

Paola Longoria competed at the 2013 World Games in Cali, Colombia, where she won gold in Women's Singles.

Paola Longoria won two gold medals at the 2014 World Championships in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, winning Women's Singles and Doubles.

Paola Longoria was a double gold medalist at the 2015 Pan American Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, winning both Women's Singles and Women's Doubles.

Paola Longoria won three gold medals for Mexico at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, where she won all three women's competitions: Women's Singles, Women's Doubles and the Women's Team event.

In 2016, Paola Longoria won gold in both Women's Singles and Women's Doubles, with Samantha Salas, at the Pan American Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

Paola Longoria won the title without losing a game over five matches, and only gave up more than three points once - to Salas in game two of the final.

Paola Longoria again won LPRT Doubles at the US Open, but this time with Gabriela Martinez.

Paola Longoria went to the 2018 World Championships in San Jose, Costa Rica as the three-time defending champion in Women's Singles.

Paola Longoria regained both the Women's Singles and Women's Doubles World Championships by winning both divisions at the 2021 International Racquetball Federation World Championships in Guatemala City.

Paola Longoria's winning performance at the 2021 World Championships qualified Longoria for the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, where she won gold in women's singles.

Paola Longoria won gold in Women's Singles, Women's Doubles and the Women's Team event at the 2022 IRF World Championships.

Paola Longoria received the 2010 National Sports Award from the Mexican government.

Paola Longoria was Mexico's flagbearer during the 2015 Pan American Games opening ceremony.

In 2021, Mattel announced that Paola Longoria would be one of three new Barbie dolls launched as a tribute to Latin American athletes.

Paola Longoria is the winningest player in both women's pro racquetball history and international competition.

Paola Longoria has over 100 wins on the pro tour, highlighted by a record 11 victories at the US Open Racquetball Championships, racquetball's most prestigious pro event.