Age Is Just a Number: Meet Nelson Fischer, the 95-Year-Old Pickler Inspiring a Community

Remember how we always say pickleball is for everyone, even older people?

Well, US-based Pinoy Zack Muñoz, known in pickleball circles as “Zack Attack,” certainly proves that point. The 73-year-old pickler is living, breathing, and playing example that age doesn’t matter in pickleball. And he’s not alone. Sexagenarians, septuagenarians, and even octogenarians are still picking up a paddle and playing pickleball here in Asia and in various parts of the world.

Now, apparently, even nonagenarians are playing the world’s fastest-rising sport as well. This is exactly the case with Nelson Fischer, aged 95 and a resident of Watertown in Wisconsin, USA.

Just Keep Moving!—Nelson Fischer

According to the Watertown Daily Times, Nelson Fischer isn’t just an occasional pickleball player. Instead, he’s a regular, picking up the paddle every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and playing from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

You might be thinking, “Big deal! He’s playing with seniors, too, for sure!”

Wrong! YMCA at Watertown swear Fischer plays against everyone—older players, younger ones, and everybody else in between. He takes on all comers, too, from novices to highly skilled. Evidently, age and skill level don’t matter to Fischer. He just wants to play!

“All of us are here to have fun, meet new people and get a little exercise,” Fischer said. “It’s no big secret. You have to keep moving.”

Indeed, the best bet is Fischer has been moving a lot his entire life, and that probably explains why he can still play pickleball at a high level even as a 95-year-old. Naturally, he has inspired his fellow picklers at the Watertown YMCA to just keep moving.

“If I can only be as half as active as Nelson when I am his age I’ll be happy. It could be the dead of winter and many of us including Nelson will come out here, see one another and play pickleball. The weather won’t stop him either,” said Gayle Kremer, a regular at the YMCA.

Passing Along His Mantra and Wisdom

Nelson Fischer has also been passing along not only pickleball tips but also life wisdom to the younger generation. One of them is 15-year-old Ezra Martin, who like Fischer plays pickleball regularly at the YMCA.

“He’s taught me age doesn’t matter. He’s told me you can have fun through exercising and meet new people. The big thing I learned is age should not hold you back,” said Mertins, who has become a good friend of Fischer thanks to their regular pickleball games.

Best believe those regular games—against Mertins and everyone else—will continue as long as Nelson Fischer can keep moving.

We’re rooting that he can until he’s well into the 100s.