Paralympic Swimmer Embraces Pickleball: Morgan Ray, an elite Paralympic swimmer, has found a new passion in pickleball. The 22-year-old, who helped the United States win silver in the 4×50 meter medley relay in Paris last summer, enjoys the social aspect of the sport, which contrasts with the solitude of competitive swimming.
“With my swimming career, a lot of it is inside my own head. The competition is just me vs. the clock. Yes, I’m going against people, but I’m really just racing the clock. It’s not the most social sport.” – (Ray)
“With pickleball, I can interact with people while the game is going on — build relationships, joke around. In that sense, it’s been great.” – (Ray)
A Family Tradition Reignited
Morgan Ray was first introduced to pickleball in the 1990s by his grandfather, Emory Washington, who brought the sport from Seattle to Jacksonville. While Ray and his three brothers played as kids, they recently rediscovered their passion for the game as pickleball’s popularity has surged nationwide.
“We re-found it last year because it’s growing so fast around the country. It’s a really fun thing to do outside of my swimming.” – (Ray)
After competing in the 2024 Paralympics, Ray took a six-week break from swimming and played pickleball almost daily.
“Coming home from Paris, I took a six-week break from swimming and picked up pickleball heavily. I was doing it almost every day. It’s something I love doing. I love getting better.” – (Ray)
A Competitive Spirit and Unique Challenges
Morgan Ray admits that he is still developing his pickleball skills, especially compared to his brother Michael, who recently made the University of North Florida (UNF) pickleball team.
“Michael is much better than me,” Ray acknowledged. He also attends UNF, balancing his education with swimming and occasional pickleball games. Despite limited playing opportunities, Ray cherishes time on the court, especially with his brothers.
“It really helps with my brothers, seeing them and keeping in touch with them, and it will help down the road when we’re much older — like (the bond) we had with my grandfather.” – (Ray)
“We’re super competitive. We’ve picked up any sport we could to compete against each other.” – (Ray)
Standing at 4-foot-5 due to achondroplasia, Ray appreciates the accessibility of the sport compared to tennis but recognizes some challenges.
“Being shorter than everyone else can be a challenge. I can’t chase the ball certain times, I can’t hug the front, I think that’s probably the biggest challenge, just having to plan a shot and then plan where it’s going to be returned to me, and if it’s not there, I’m not going to go get it because I don’t need to get hurt.” – (Ray)
Pickleball as an Outlet for Elite Athletes
As Morgan Ray prepares for the World Para Swimming Championships later this year and sets his sights on the 2028 Summer Paralympics in Los Angeles, the sport remains a valuable outlet.
“I’m always trying to get better at swimming, of course. I’m still new to pickleball, but I think building my game up has really helped with swimming too because it’s unlocked another drive.” – (Ray)
“It is that escape outlet — after practice, if I have enough energy, it’s something to look forward to and it kind of brings me back to swimming. I think it’s great for elite level athletes to have other outlets to rely on, because just mentally you need to open the door to other opportunities.” – (Ray)
Ray has also witnessed pickleball’s rapid growth in Jacksonville and across Florida.
“It’s caught on heavily down here. So many neighborhoods are opening pickleball courts. In the last year and a half or two years, it’s picked up immensely. Everyone’s playing down here. It’s awesome.” – (Ray)
News in Brief: Paralympic Swimmer Embraces Pickleball
Paralympic swimmer Morgan Ray has embraced pickleball as a social and competitive outlet outside of the pool. Originally introduced to the sport by his grandfather, Ray rediscovered his passion in recent years. He balances swimming and school with occasional games, seeing the sport as a way to bond with family and stay active.
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