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In this episode, I talk with wheelchair Pickleball player Joe Dowling and tournament director Jim Loving. Jim held the first regional Pickleball tournament with a wheelchair division and Joe was one of the participants. Joe discusses why Pickleball is such a great sport for people with disabilities and the challenges in growing the sport for wheelchair players.
Show Notes
In this episode we discuss:
- How Jim hosted the first USA regional Pickleball tournament with a wheelchair division
- Joe’s participation in the regional tournament including the wheelchair division and combination wheelchair/stand up division
- Joe’s decision to became a USA Pickleball Ambassador and how he put on a clinic to help other ambassadors learn what it is like to have wheelchair participation
- Why Pickleball is such a great sport for people in wheelchairs
- Joe’s work to promote the sport of Pickleball at rehabilitation hospitals
- The challenges in facilities being able to accommodate wheelchair participants
- Joe’s exhibition of wheelchair Pickleball at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
- How rules are adapted for wheelchair participants and Joe’s plan to make some changes
Joe Dowling
Mentioned in the Show
Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
