A crossover between Michael Phelps and Larry Fitzgerald as they square off on the Pickleball court
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Michael Phelps, Larry Fitzgerald
Pickleball is a sport made from a combination of several racquet sports including tennis, badminton, and table tennis. The paddles resemble the table tennis racquets while the nets are similar to tennis but smaller in size. The balls contain 26 to 40 holes and the serve and volley rules differ a bit from tennis as well. There is a no-volley zone called kitchen on each side and the sport is rapidly gaining popularity in the United States.
Since the learning curve of the game is very little, the sport has been taken up quickly by people regardless of their age or gender. Pickleball is sweeping the general audience and in an attempt to get some more spotlight on the breakout sport, Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, and Larry Fitzgerald, the former NFL Superstar were roped in for a fun doubles match on the Pickleball court.
Larry Fitzgerald faced some talented kids in pickleball
The two amazing athletes were pitted against each other being paired with the pros of the game. Though Fitzgerald showed some natural skills for the game, hitting overhead winners, while Phelps was struggling with the game, he was still able to charm the audience with his tenacity. Fitzgerald the natural competitor also agreed to a singles match against Anna Leigh Waters, the world number 1 in women’s. Though Fitzgerald was given enormous odds of 9-0, he still lost to Waters 9-11.
Fitzgerald also battled a 10-year-old Leo Chun who played like a seasoned player and even with Fitzgerald being numerous times bigger and stronger than Chun, he was able to play extremely well and it was the proof that pickleball is less about size and strength and more about practice and it is truly a sport for all ages and all types of players. It was a true spectacle for the giants of different sports enjoying the game of pickleball.
Matt Wright, ranked number 3 in Pickleball, said: “Having the opportunity to play pickleball with Michael Phelps and Larry Fitzgerald—two of the most accomplished and iconic athletes of all time—was truly a special moment both personally and for the growth of our sport, “Aside from the obvious athletic superiority, their humility, kindness and generosity are what stood out the most and stole the show.”
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Prateek Sinha
(365 Articles Published)