Idaho Senior Games continues this weekend with pickleball

BOISE, Idaho — 82-year-old Dick Johnson is wanting ahead to defending his crown as a pickleball gold medal champion on the Idaho Senior Video games this weekend.

Dick is likely one of the finest pickleball gamers on the planet on the senior tour, on the finish of April he received gold on the U.S. Open and picked up one other gold within the Nationwide Senior Video games in Ft. Lauderdale Florida all whereas catching COVID in between.

“There are about six majors throughout the nation and I’ve performed all of them and received all of them the final six or seven 12 months, “stated Johnson. “This 12 months has been no totally different, I’ve received three of the six thus far with three extra to go, if I can try this I’ll win the grand slam once more, which is successful all of the majors.”

Dick Johnson grew up enjoying tennis, however he switched to pickleball ten years in the past, this sport has smaller courts which is likely one of the explanation why it has been dubbed the quickest rising sport for years now, it has change into actually well-liked right here within the Treasure Valley and with seniors as this sport helps them keep energetic.

“Grand children can play with grandpa, ladies can play with males and all people has a great time,” stated Johnson. “Pickleball may be very welcoming, pleasant and social though while you get to a world class stage it will get fairly severe.”

Johnson must do properly this weekend to qualify for the Huntsman World Video games in October, an occasion that might be an enormous deal for the Dick and his spouse Lawana who goes to each match, Dick might be inducted into the corridor of fame on the world video games.

“It actually is sort of an honor I’m simply so thrilled about it,” stated Johnson. There might be 35 sports activities, 12,000 athletes from greater than 53 nations.”

However first Dick will compete within the Idaho Senior Video games, he already received a gold in cornhole because the senior video games has been occurring for a few weeks, this weekend he turns his consideration to pickleball.

“It’s an exquisite occasion I adore it,” stated Johnson. “It’s for individuals 50 years and over and it’s important to medal in it to qualify for the World Senior Video games.

The Idaho Senior Video games will end up the next week with tennis, the video games options a number of different occasions together with monitor and area, basketball, bowling and a number of other different sports activities.