By now, it’s commonplace for celebrities and athletes alike to try out pickleball. Some get the hang of it and fall in love, like tennis legend Andre Agassi, while some become casual players, as in the case of NBA icon Dirk Nowitzki. Now, count Olympic gold medallist Hidilyn Diaz as another athlete who has tried the world’s fastest-growing sport.
In an Instagram story, the weightlifting champion and pride of the Philippines shared a video of herself playing pickleball with a few others, with the caption, “Sumama sa hype. Bumili ng pickleball net and paddle pero walang court” (Joined in on the hype. Bought a pickleball net and paddle but no court).
Indeed, Diaz and her companions were playing on gravel in what looked like an open field or farmland. Needless to say, it was a unique situation in which to play pickleball, but Diaz and her fellow players didn’t seem to mind, based on the short video.
Diaz, of course, shot to fame in 2021 when she won the Philippines’ first-ever Olympic medal with a record-setting performance in women’s weightlifting. She has since become a local hero and is promoting the sport of weightlifting and nurturing the next generation of Filipino lifters.
Now, whether Hidilyn Diaz falls in love with pickleball remains to be seen. But, at the very least, she gave it a try. Maybe the hype will get to her for real.
