Anthony Ryan’s Impact on Adaptive Pickleball: Anthony Ryan has redefined the landscape of adaptive sports as the first credentialed USA Pickleball referee who uses a wheelchair. His journey from a young athlete facing challenges to a trailblazer in pickleball showcases his unwavering commitment to excellence. Driven by a passion for sports and a desire to inspire others, Ryan aims to grow the adaptive pickleball community across the Southeast.
“I’m not much of a ‘prove it’ type person, but I am a person who, if I’m going to do something I want to be the best that I can be at it. And not only the best that I can be, but the best period,” Anthony Ryan declared, reflecting his relentless drive in the world of sports.
A Lifelong Passion for Sports
“I grew up with a love for sports,” Ryan recounted, recalling his formative years. “Always trying to figure out a way to participate despite whatever limitations were in front of me.” Born with a spinal lipoma, Ryan has relied on assistive devices throughout his life, yet they have never deterred him from chasing his athletic aspirations.
At the age of 18, while swimming laps at a gym, Ryan encountered Rick Slaughter, a man who would change his life. “I looked up at the top of the pool, and there was a guy in a wheelchair sitting there, and he said, ‘Have you ever played wheelchair basketball?’ And I said, ‘No,’ and he said, ‘Well, my name’s Rick.’” That moment marked Ryan’s introduction to adaptive sports.
From Basketball to Tennis to Pickleball
Though Ryan’s stint in wheelchair basketball was brief, his transition to tennis proved transformative. Under Slaughter’s mentorship, who was once among the top-ranked wheelchair tennis players globally, Ryan flourished. “We formed a great relationship,” Ryan noted. “He ran a nonprofit in Nashville that focused on adaptive sports for children. He got me involved in that, coming out and helping him teach those kids how to play and become more independent through sports, and that’s really where the seeds were planted.”
After a decade of competing in tennis, Ryan found his passion for pickleball. “I loved it from the jump,” he said, and last year, he made history by becoming the first adaptive referee to officiate a USA Pickleball match.
A Unique Perspective
“There are times where having more height would help me, and there are times where having less height helps me,” Ryan explained, sharing insights from his unique vantage point as a referee. “There’s certain things being close to the ground that I see better than standing referees and vice versa. In my opinion, it all comes out in the wash. I think it’s pretty even in terms of our ability to perform.”
“The doors have been opened for me,” he continued. “Pickleball wasn’t what I ever expected, but through it, I’ve found so many great relationships; Mike included.”
Building a Community
Mike Thompson, a Gulf Coast-based pickleball coach, underscored Ryan’s immense contribution to the sport. “He just means a lot to me,” Thompson said. “He means a lot to the community, and he means a lot to the sport. Who else can go out and be a tour player and a tour referee? That just says it all right there.”
Recently, Ryan and his wife, Christina, welcomed twins—Hank and Hattie. Their arrival has only deepened his motivation. “One of the things I’m most grateful for is that it gives my kids the opportunity to see me pursue something,” Ryan stated. “My career came and went before I had kids, fortunately. I’m blessed that I was able to have a great career and then move on from that and be able to enjoy life the way I want to enjoy it. Pickleball has really played a major role in that.”
As he looks to the future, Ryan expressed a desire to expand the adaptive pickleball community in the Southeast, giving back to young people in the same way others have poured into his life.
News in Brief: Anthony Ryan’s Impact on Adaptive Pickleball
Anthony Ryan, the first adaptive USA Pickleball referee who uses a wheelchair, is making significant strides in the sport. Born with a spinal lipoma, Ryan’s journey began in adaptive sports with wheelchair basketball and transitioned to tennis under the mentorship of Rick Slaughter. Recently, he made history by officiating a USA Pickleball match. Ryan aims to inspire and grow the adaptive pickleball community in the Southeast, motivated by his family and past experiences in sports.
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