down , depending on each player ’ s preference .
“ With pickleball , you can make it as intense as you want it ,” he said . “ It ’ s just like any other sport . You ’ ve got to put in the work . You ’ ve got to put in the time .”
Nichols became so immersed in the sport that last year at this time , he became national adaptive pickleball coordinator for Chicken N Pickle , a national chain with 11 locations . He also co-founded Para Pickleball Program , a nonprofit based in Dallas .
“ In that year , I ’ ve seen so much growth ,” said Nichols , who has worked with hundreds of players over that time . “ There is a need for it . We have the players .”
Nichols added that he was approached by many people at Nationals who wanted to learn more about the adaptive game . He hopes to use his triple crown to show others with and without disabilities that they can overcome challenges in their lives .
“ You can still do all these great things ,” he said . “ I try to use that as my motivation and to help others . I try to use my platform to … advocate for inclusion .”
Now that the door has been opened at Nationals for adaptive athletes , Nichols wants to see those divisions grow at the event .
“ There ’ s hundreds of others out there wanting to compete ,” he said . “ I saw this sport as something that could be for everyone . It ’ s very easy to learn .
“ There ’ s been a lot of growth in the past year . The sky is the limit , right ? There ’ s a lot more growth to go . It ’ s a great step in the right direction . It ’ s helping the sport grow .”
For Nichols , pickleball helped fill the competitive void left when his professional motocross career came to an abrupt end with that crash at a race in Missouri .
“ I ’ m super-competitive ,” he admitted . “ I just want to always be better and challenge myself .”
Now , he has three gold medals from a championship event to show that all his hard work was worth it .
“ It ’ s awesome ,” Nichols said . “ I ’ m extremely proud . It ’ s fulfilling . It really is .”
Nichols hopes to leave behind a legacy for the disabled community and anyone else trying to overcome the hardships faced in everyday life . And he will use pickleball as the vehicle to do that .
“ The sport ’ s amazing ,” said Nichols , who seeks to “ help others find and become the best version of themselves .”
Bob Reinert spent 17 years writing sports for The Boston Globe . He also served as a sports information director at Saint Anselm College and Phillips Exeter Academy . He is a contributor to USA Pickleball on behalf of Red Line Editorial , Inc .
PHOTO CREDIT - USA PICKLEBALL
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2025 | MAGAZINE 55