Pickleball Magazine 2019 USA National Championships | Page 43

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“It was simply
spectacular. The
crowds at this
year's Nationals,
the reception we
received, and the
overall quality of
play was more than
I could have hoped
for,” says Philippe
Bedard.
t 22 years old, life is often filled with dreams,
hopes and aspirations. Optimism abounds as
young adults venture out to begin the next chapter
of their lives. All was going according to plan
for Philippe Bedard until one day in 2002, after months of not
feeling quite right, a diagnosis of lupus suddenly put his goals
and ambitions on hold. Inflammation of his spine eventually led
to paralysis, a condition that has afflicted him for nearly half of
his adult life. He recalls, “I was really scared because it was life
threatening—I got really sick and spent more than 700 days in
the hospital for the five years that followed my diagnosis. So I
was basically just trying to survive.”
Survival can manifest itself in many different forms, from
mental to physical to spiritual. Philippe tapped all three. His one
salvation, one that has stayed with him, is sports: “When I got a
chance to leave the hospital, my goal was to exercise. I started
with pushing my wheelchair, then hand cycling, and finally
wheelchair tennis. Sports gave me the opportunity to rehabilitate
myself both physically and mentally.”
His main sport now—the one he’s most passionate about—is
pickleball, introduced to him by his good friend and former
wheelchair tennis partner Jean Francois. An ATV accident
forced Jean to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
Philippe grew up in the small town of Bromont, 50 miles north
of Montreal, the city he now calls home. His trek to the 2019
Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships was
made a lot easier this year knowing that wheelchair pickleball,
also known as adaptive pickleball, was to be an exhibition there.
At the 2020 version of the sport’s premier event, wheelchair
will have its own separate division. “I’m really excited we can
join the party,” says Philippe. “The goal is to be there with the
world’s best players, and as our sport develops, our level of play
will also develop, and soon we’ll have players from all around
the world competing and this tournament will become the best
in the world. It’s such a privilege to be at the same event as
standing people; no other wheelchair sport has that. It clearly
shows that pickleball is such a welcoming and accessible sport,
and better yet, it has an amazing vibe.”
While Philippe loves to compete, it’s his work off the court
that is enabling wheelchair pickleball to attain new heights.
He explains, “My new role is to further develop the sport, the
rule book, scheduling exhibitions, using my wheelchair tennis
experience to help grow Para Pickleball and make it the best
sport possible.”
There are a few differences in the sport for the wheelchair
participants. They are allowed two bounces before hitting the
ball, and the no volley zone—affectionately called “the kitchen”—
is off limits for the chair’s main rear wheels. The smaller wheels/
casters are allowed in the area while attempting shots.
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