I also play (a lot of) pickleball
I was introduced to the sport of pickleball in August 2020, where lockdown measures in Canada in response to the COVID-19 pandemic sparked a significant social interest in a sport that was fairly straightforward to learn (especially for an ex-tennis player) but challenging to master.
I was hooked, immediately.
Over the next months I played the game with a hunger and passion, elevating my game and readying myself to compete at the tournament level. Then, on November 30, 2020, I suffered a full achilles rupture — effectively stalling my growth, and leading to a world in which the next 5-months were spent in a cast, on crutches, and then, eventually, relearning how to walk, run, and jump.
It was only towards the end of April that I was beginning to make my way back onto the courts; but, though my body had suffered, my focus and determination (bordering on obsession, if we’re being honest) never wavered.
Today, I’ve medalled in singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles events. I’m currently sponsored to compete by HEAD/Penn Pickleball. I’ve also begun dedicating time to touring national and international pickleball communities — and have visited regions across Ontario and Quebec, throughout the United States, and have plans to set up play in the U.K. and South Africa. The journey continues.