OC Lea Van Der Zwalmen’s Historic Legacy as a Decade Undefeated

When Lea Van Der Zwalmen first arrived at Clifton College, she was already a formidable athlete, a French junior squash champion with lightning-fast reflexes. Yet, the sport that would eventually define her legacy was one she hadn’t even heard of.

Under the guidance of Reggie Williams, our dedicated rackets coach, Lea stepped onto the rackets court for the first time, beginning a journey that can only be described as meteoric. For the past ten years, Lea has stood unchallenged as the World Rackets Champion, a reign defined by hard work, resilience, and determination forged in the very courts where she first learnt the sport.

Now, after a decade of dominance, Lea has made the decision not to defend her title, choosing instead to celebrate this incredible milestone by reflecting on the path that brought her here.

In this exclusive interview, we sit down with one of the College's most decorated alumni to discuss the spark that ignited her career, the discipline of staying at the summit for a decade, and why she will always credit her school years for the champion she became.

You arrived at Clifton as a high-level squash player. Can you tell us a bit about how you first thought to give rackets a try and how that first session hooked you?

I arrived at Clifton in September 2013 as a Year 12 pupil in West Town. Those first days were nerve‑wracking. A new country, a new school, my English still rusty, and an avalanche of activities. Reggie Williams, the rackets pro, had heard about my squash background and went out of his way to get me on court. I remember thinking, what is rackets? In France we did not have it. He told me it was a British game, the ancestor of squash, invented near Harrow. Intriguing. My first hit was memorable because I could not even make contact. The bat was longer than my squash racket, the ball far bouncier, and the court enormous, about three times a squash court. That 20‑minute first session I barely returned a ball, but something stuck. A small, stubborn voice, part ego and part curiosity, kept me coming back. By my third try I hit a full‑string shot, and it felt unlike anything I had felt before. That was it. I was hooked.

It is almost unheard of to go from never having played a sport to being World Champion in such a short window. Can you give us a little insight into those first few years of your rackets career and your meteoric rise?

I owe my rise in rackets entirely to the support I got at Clifton and especially to Reggie Williams. Once I learnt to hold the racket properly, he saw real potential and pushed me relentlessly, with technique, tactics and organised sparring. He made me accept that squash skills alone would not be enough, and Clifton’s environment inspired me to work hard. Winning my first Ladies Rackets World Singles Championship in May 2015 while still at Clifton in Year 13 felt surreal. We celebrated in the cricket pavilion with everyone who had helped me. It was a very special moment and a huge confidence boost.

Beyond the court, how did the daily rhythm of life at Clifton, the House system, the academic rigour, and the history of the buildings, shape the mental toughness you needed later in your career?

Arriving straight into Year 12 was a steep learning curve: uniform, Chapel, packed timetables and activities even on Saturday afternoons. It was intense, but the staff were incredibly supportive and encouraged everyone to try new things. That “say yes” to everything mindset became mine. I joined netball and hockey, filled in for rowing and fencing, and used the beautiful library for solid revision sessions. Walking past the portraits and history on campus made everything feel significant. Wearing the ties and being part of the House system helped me keep perspective during A Levels and UCAS. The routine and pride built resilience and helped me through stressful times.

How did you manage the transition from being "Lea the pupil" in the morning to "Lea the elite athlete" in the afternoon? Did the school help you find that balance?

Balancing schoolwork and elite sport has always felt natural to me. Sport clears my head for study, and study gives structure to sport. Clifton made that balance possible. Teachers offered quick help when I lagged, like extra German tuition, and supported early departures for fixtures while making sure I knew what I had missed. That level of academic and pastoral support was new to me and crucial in allowing me to pursue both without burning out.

You’ve often credited the coaching staff at Clifton for your start in the sport. What was the most important lesson you learned in those early sessions that stayed with you through every world championship defence?

If it were not for Reggie and the coaching team, I would not be where I am. They taught me to play the real game of rackets, the angles, the spin, and the footwork; and to do it in the right spirit: play hard but play fair. Reggie was relentless on the little things: how to hold the bat, how to move into position, how to construct a point. He also drilled into me the habit of resetting after a lost point, literally saying, 'Onto the next point.' Point by point became my mantra, on court and off. That lesson rang loudest in my last title defence in May 2024. Down 2–0 and 13–5 in the third, things looked bleak, but I kept coming back to the basics Reggie had taught me. We played a long rally that ended with my opponent missing a sitter, almost unheard of at that level, and from that tiny opening I heard Reggie in my head: one point at a time. Slowly I fought my way back, simple, steady rackets, and bit by bit the match swung. Coming back to win 3–2 that day felt like the purest expression of everything he had taught me.

Deciding not to defend a ten-year record is a brave move. What does this milestone mean to you personally, and how does it feel to step away on your own terms?

Stepping away after a ten-year run was one of the hardest decisions I have made, but it felt right. Living in Bordeaux since 2020 with limited access to rackets courts made maintaining top form difficult. I was turning up to tournaments only days beforehand to get my eye in, and playing felt less fun and less fair to the sport. The comeback in 2024 was extraordinary and felt like a peak moment I was unlikely to top given my circumstances. People urged me to keep going and part of me loved the challenge and history‑making, but I did not want one bad year or an injury to tarnish what I had built. Walking away undefeated after ten years felt like the honest, brave choice. Letting go was surprisingly freeing.

If you walked into the Clifton Rackets court tomorrow and saw a young student holding a bat for the first time, just as you once did, what would be the one thing you’d tell them?

Whenever I return to Clifton and see a young player holding a bat for the first time, I feel nostalgic. I would not tell them to drop other sports. Cross training made me a better all‑round athlete. I would tell them this: rackets is all about angles and footwork, so practise your feet and learn the angles. Get your feet right, focus on movement, and enjoy the journey. You will discover amazing places and people along the way.

As you look beyond the World Championship, what are you most excited to tackle next?

Beyond the World Championship I am excited to be a proper amateur and play for fun when I can. I want to find a better work, life and sport balance and play more doubles in rackets, real tennis and padel. I climbed Kilimanjaro with real tennis friends in 2019 and loved that kind of out‑of‑comfort‑zone challenge, so I want more of that. I also enjoy giving back, running Sunday morning ladies’ rackets clinics at Queen’s sometimes. For now I am looking forward to new adventures, more doubles and staying connected to the sport I love.

On behalf of the entire Clifton College community, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Lea for sharing her story with such candour and reflection. It is rare to witness a decade of such absolute sporting dominance, but rarer still to see a champion remain so connected to the roots of their success.

Thank you, Lea, for the inspiration, the history, and for proving that once a Cliftonian, always a trailblazer. We look forward to seeing the incredible things you achieve in your next chapter.

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