Feature smoked or drank anything , and of course I never did drugs . I eat fairly well , although I am a chocoholic , but I do wear that off mostly by playing . I do have a positive attitude , and I try not to let anything get me down too much because depression is not good .”
When she ’ s not playing pickleball , Jones enjoys flipping through her 36 albums filled with photos and articles chronicling a career in all three of her beloved sports . She is in the process of writing her life story — a book she started more than 15 years ago .
“ However , I haven ’ t written any of it during the last year ,” she admitted . “ I ’ ve been too busy .”
Jones also loves spending time with her four children ( three of whom play pickleball ), her six grandchildren ( all of whom play ), and her three greatgrandchildren .
“ They ’ re a little too young yet ,” she quipped in reference to the youngest generation . “ I imagine they will soon .”
And if they do take up pickleball , they ’ ll be in good company . Millions of Americans have begun playing recreationally and competitively in recent years , helping pickleball become the fastest-growing sport in the nation . “ I had no idea it would explode like this ,” Jones says , “ but I ’ m very excited about it . It ’ s just so exciting to have it grow like this .”
That said , she hopes the competitive components of the sport never take away from the social aspects . Indeed , the original intention of the sport was for it to be a social activity that people of all skill levels could participate in .
“ It ’ s just such a social game ,” Jones says . “ You can have a good time if you aren ’ t a competitor , and if you are competitive , then you can just keep improving . It ’ s a sport that anybody can enjoy .”
After many years of playing badminton , tennis and pickleball , Jones is down to one sport these days . She gave up badminton three years ago due to neck issues , and moved on from tennis last year as a result of arthritis in her hands .
“ Now I just stick to pickleball ,” she says . “ But I love it . I want to keep playing as long as I possibly can .
Hopefully until I ’ m 100 .” After decades of pickleball accomplishments and a lifetime of success in other sports , Jones certainly has plenty to be proud of . The crowd in Mesa had the right idea to honor the pickleball legend , and one of the game ’ s greatest ambassadors , like she deserves to be honored every day of the year .
“ I ’ m just proud to still be able to play and compete at 94 . I ’ ve been really fortunate . I ’ ve had a great life and a lot of attention , which I like ,” Jones says , laughing . “ I get comments like , ‘ I ’ m going to be just like you ,’ and ‘ I want to be able to play like you when I ’ m 94 ,’ and ‘ You inspire me .’ All those things make me very happy . I ’ m just happy I can inspire people and I am happy I can still do it myself and play the game that I love .” •
Drew Silverman is a freelance contributor to USA Pickleball on behalf of Red Line Editorial , Inc .
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