Gabe George’s introduction to pickleball occurred several years ago at a VA Summer Sports Clinic in San Diego. Gabe is a medically retired U.S. Navy corpsman, having suffered severe injuries in a motorcycle accident in April 2008.
A Three-Week Coma
His injuries led to a three-week coma, a traumatic brain injury, spinal damage, and, ultimately, the amputation of his right arm.
Reflecting on that time, George recounted to Bob Reinert of Red Line Editorial, “I just got back from a deployment, and I was leaving Bible study that night.
“At that time of my life, when I wasn’t at work or at church, I was on my motorcycle. That’s all I did at the time was ride. That was my passion.”
Interest Piqued
George’s interest in pickleball was initially piqued at the VA sports clinic, although he had originally intended to focus on archery. “Nobody knew what pickleball was,” he recalled. “It so happened the pickleball clinic was right next to the archery clinic.”
“Everyone was just so friendly. They put the paddle in my hand. They showed me how to do it. I was like, ‘Oh, this is fun.’ I was really excited. They ended up giving me that paddle.”
The Youngest Player
Taking the sport back to Jacksonville, he discovered an indoor court at a local church. Despite being the youngest player by a considerable margin, he was warmly welcomed.
“Everybody there was 60 and older,” George said. “They were so welcoming. They encouraged me to play, and I had the time of my life.
“I couldn’t stop playing. I kept talking to people about it. This was way before pickleball was the cool thing to do.
“I found out that after playing for hours and hours, I was still having fun. Whether I played and won or played and lost, I still had an amazing time.”
George described his fondness for the sport: “I can get almost anybody playing pickleball, and we have a great time, and it’s very inexpensive.
In 15 minutes, I’ll have them playing this sport and loving it. People love it.”
Military Adaptive Court Sports
His passion for pickleball led him to extensive travel, exemplified by his well-worn 2017 Prius Hatchback, which has logged an impressive 345,000 miles.
George is based in Jacksonville, Florida, and now serves as the Director of Pickleball for Military Adaptive Court Sports (MACS). This nonprofit organization conducts pickleball, racquetball, and badminton clinics for veterans and active-duty service members.
Over the past year, George has crisscrossed the country, hosting over 150 clinics himself. As he states, “We’re national; we cover everything.”
Yet, with his coaching responsibilities taking precedence, George laments his diminishing time for personal play: “I’m coaching so much that it extremely impacts my play. I realized that over the last couple of years. I have clinics everywhere. I never get to play.”
Loving That Paddle On Ball Sound
During his clinics, George often emphasizes the gratifying sound of the paddle connecting with the pickleball, urging attendees to cherish it.
“I want you to fall in love with that sound,” he tells his students.
Despite his relative youth, George envisions pickleball as a fixture in his retirement years. “I have that experience of watching my elders playing it still in their 80s and 90s,” he said.
“I tell people about my first time playing when I had my butt handed to me by an 84-year-old man.”
Heart Of Invictus
Alongside pickleball, George has engaged in various adaptive sports. Notably, he was featured in the Netflix series Heart of Invictus, chronicling his journey to the 2020 Invictus Games in archery, swimming, and rowing. People and CBS Mornings also covered his story.
With many years ahead of him before reaching that age, George remains committed to spreading the gospel of pickleball: “I love to see this sport grow. I love to be a part of the growth of it, too.
“Everywhere I go, as I continue to live, it’s something I can take with me, I can share with people. “No one I will ever meet will have more fun playing pickleball than me. That’s my No. 1 rule: No one can have more fun than me.”
“I derive immense joy from witnessing the growth of this sport,” he affirmed.
“Being a part of its expansion is deeply fulfilling. Wherever life takes me, I can carry this passion and share it with others. No one will ever have more fun playing pickleball than me; that’s my steadfast belief.”
