In June 2026, I (Elena Van Loo) had the incredible opportunity to participate in my second USA Pickleball Wheelchair Tournament, held in Colorado Springs. From the moment I arrived, every player, every staff member at Peak Pickleball, and everyone I interacted with was warm, supportive, and genuinely welcoming. I was impressed to see how skilled some of the wheelchair players were who traveled from all over the country. This year brought record-breaking attendance: 52 wheelchair athletes competing across doubles, hybrid (one wheelchair player and one able-bodied player), and singles divisions. The energy was electric.
Day 1: Wheelchair Doubles – The first day focused entirely on wheelchair doubles. My partner, Enrique Aguilar, and I came in knowing we were up against some very strong players. Despite the challenge, we communicated well, played hard, learned a lot, and, most importantly, had fun. Enrique was an amazing partner and a fantastic player.
Day 2: Hybrid Doubles – On the second day, I teamed up with my hybrid partner, Lincoln Dwight. We had a great time competing together and pushed ourselves throughout the day. The competition was tough, but we walked away proud of how much we learned and how well we played.
Day 3: Wheelchair Singles – The final day was wheelchair singles, and I felt especially proud of my performance. I found myself playing more like a tennis player: more strategic, more confident, and more prepared. I’m excited to share that I finished in 6th place, which felt like a huge personal accomplishment.
I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Bill Prowning, a passionate advocate for getting people with all types of disabilities involved in pickleball through BORP. Bill also competed in the USA Pickleball Wheelchair Tournament this year, both in wheelchair and able-bodied divisions, and it was so fun to watch him play. He did great in every match I saw.
Wheelchair pickleball is one of the fastest growing and most inclusive adaptive sports out there. It blends the quick, fun pace of pickleball with the skill and strategy of wheelchair athletics, offering players with disabilities a social, competitive, and energizing way to stay active. I first got involved through BORP about 2.5 to 3 years ago. I encourage people to come check out BORP pickleball, which is open to new players. All of us started as beginners! My first tournament was in San Diego in 2025, where I earned a gold medal in wheelchair doubles and a silver medal in hybrid doubles with my amazing partner, Renee Hoyer-Nielsen.
This sport has given me community, confidence, and unforgettable experiences. I’m already looking forward to the next tournament and everything this journey continues to bring.
Thank you,
Elena Van Loo
