François Viens

François Viens (born March 7, 1975) is a Canadian retired racquetball player from Delson, Quebec. Viens was a doubles specialist during his career usually playing on the right side. He won four Canadian Championships in doubles, three with Vincent Gagnon, with whom he also won the 2007 Pan American Championships and one with Corey Osborne.

François Viens
Personal information
NationalityCanadian
Born (1975-03-07) March 7, 1975
Ottawa, Ontario
Sport
SportRacquetball
Achievements and titles
National finals1st Doubles 2003, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medal record
Men's Racquetball
Representing  Canada
Pan American Games
Bronze medal – third place 2003 Pan Am Games Doubles
Pan Am Championships
Gold medal – first place 2007 Pan American Championships Doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2004 Pan American Championships Doubles

International career

Viens made 5 appearances on Team Canada.[1] His first appearance was at the 2003 Pan American Games, when he earned a bronze medal in doubles with Corey Osborne.

Viens's greatest success internationally was winning the 2007 Pan American Championships in Santiago, Chile, where he and Vincent Gagnon defeated Americans Andy Hawthorne and Jason Samora in the final, 15-6, 11-15, 11-9.[2]

Viens also played doubles with Tom O'Brien at the 2004 Pan American Championships, and they earned bronze medals, losing in the semi-finals to Americans Mike Dennison and Shane Vanderson, 15-8, 15-14.[3]

Viens's last appearance on Team Canada was at the 2008 World Championships, when he played doubles with Kris Odegard. They lost to the Japanese team of Hiroshi Shimizu and Michimune Kono in the quarter-finals, 2-15, 15-7, 11-6.[4]

His other appearance for Canada was at the 2006 World Championships, when Viens played singles for the only time in his career. He reached the quarter-finals, where he lost to Mexican Gilberto Meija.[5]

Canadian career

Viens won four Canadian Championships in doubles. His first title came in 2003 with Corey Osborne.[6] That victory helped them get selected for that year's Pan American Games.

Viens's other Canadian titles have been with Vincent Gagnon. They won in 2008, beating Mike Green and Brian Istace in the final,[7] and 2009, when they defeated Green and Eric Desrochers in the final.[8] In 2012, Gagnon and Viens defeated Desrochers and Pedro Castro in the final,[9] 15-8, 8-15, 11-9.

Personal

Viens is married and lives in Delson, Quebec.

See also

References
  1. "Racquetball Canada Team History". Racquetball Canada. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  2. "Gold & silver for Canada at Pan Am Racuqetball Championships". Canadian Racquetball Magazine. 7 (1): 20. Fall 2007.
  3. "Racquetball Canada Team History". Racquetball Canada. Archived from the original on 28 August 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  4. IRF. "2008 World Championships Men's Doubles Draw". R2 Sports. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  5. IRF. "2008 World Championships Men's Singles Draw". R2 Sports. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  6. Racquetball Canada. "Press Release". SIRC. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  7. Racquetball Canada. "Draw". R2 Sports. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  8. Racquetball Canada. "Draw". R2 Sports. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  9. Racquetball Canada. "Press Release". SIRC. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
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