Amanda Sobhy doesn't let anything get between her and her dreams.

When the Sea Cliff native learned that squash would be an official Olympic sport for the first time in the 2028 Los Angeles Games, her goal became clear: qualify for Team USA and become an Olympian.

“It was amazing [for squash] to finally get in," Sobhy said recently by phone. "It didn’t seem real honestly because  . . . L.A. 2028 was still so far away. I would probably be in shock [if I made the team].”

The International Olympic Committee approved squash's inclusion, along with baseball, softball, cricket, flag football and lacrosse, in October 2023.

Sobhy, who turns 32 on June 29, is ranked No. 9 in the world by the Professional Squash Association. The U.S. women's team will consist of 16 players and the selection process likely will begin the year before the Games.

Sobhy's Olympic dream has had its share of setbacks. She suffered a ruptured right Achilles tendon in 2023 after suffering the same injury to her left Achilles in 2017.

“It’s been a really fun journey, even though it’s been very hard,” she said.

She returned to the pro tour for the 2024 season, winning two major tournaments and reaching the finals in three others. Grateful to be back on the competitive circuit, Sobhy said she plans to adjust her competitive schedule to help prepare for the Olympics.

“I can plan and train and think about building myself back up for an Olympic cycle rather than to just get back on tour and play tournaments again,” she said. “I’ve been doing this for so many years, it allows me to enjoy the journey and the process, rather than just being on this hamster wheel of pro athlete life . . .  I'm not coming back from a second Achilles rupture and not making it to the Olympics, that’s what I tell myself.”

Sobhy was introduced to squash by her parents, Khaled Sobhy and Jodie Larson, both of whom played the game. At 17, Sobhy became the first American to win the World Junior Women's Squash Championship when she was a junior at North Shore High School in 2010. Sobhy graduated from Harvard in 2015 and finished her college career 62-0 with four national championships.

Despite all the success, Sobhy said she is most proud of the obstacles she's faced off the court. She has been open about her struggles with mental health and bulimia and said confronting those issues while overcoming injuries has helped shape a belief in herself.

“It’s a testament to myself as a person, the resilience, the grit, the willingness to be able to get knocked down and get back up and come back and come back stronger,” Sobhy said.

Wael El Hindi, who has been Sobhy's coach on and off since her days at North Shore High School, isn't surprised by Sobhy's determination.

“She’s very, very driven to try to do things that maybe people don’t think she can do,” he said. “I have to give Amanda credit because of her resilience every day. [We're] talking about a resilient person getting two injuries like that and still fighting every day, all credit to her. She’s pushing and trying to do the best she can every day.”

Sobhy, who is competing this weekend in the Squash Tour Finals in Toronto, said she also enjoys dedicating her time to teaching the game of squash.

“I'll go to areas that don’t get as much love and recognition and exposure in the U.S. . . . it’s a great way to connect with the squash community and meet people,” Sobhy said. “It’s always been in my mind to give back, especially given the platform that I have.”

And while Sobhy is focused on her goal of representing her country in Los Angeles in 2028, she said she gets the most fulfillment from inspiring others.

“I’m more than an athlete who just hits a rubber ball inside of a glass box,” Sobhy said. “And I’ve always felt that the impact that I can make on people goes far beyond that, the legacy I can leave, and I think through my experiences on tour and with my injuries and how open I’ve been about mental health and issues around eating, I’ve been able to share my story and help others through the process.”