Sport
14 December, 2024
The queen of racquet sports
IN just one year, Olivia Isbey from Smithfield has established herself as Queensland’s pickleball rising star, earning two golds at the nationals last year and fourth place at the National Pickleball League season in 2024 as Queensland captain.
Grabbing a paddle for the first time was an eye-opening experience for 30-year-old Olivia Isbey. Having played tennis as a kid she was forced to quit the sport due to injuries. Since then she had been looking for the perfect sport for her competitive spirit. She found it when she first tried pickleball in 2023.
From that discovery followed hours of matches, learning techniques, refining skills and competition which she has consistently dominated.
“I was forced to quit tennis at a young age which was hard to come to terms with,” she said.
“I got to a competitive level, but with seven hip and shoulder surgeries to date, I thought my sporting days were over.
“It was almost accidental how I found pickleball. I was quite new to Cairns and looking to play some sports and I started playing social futsal.
“I actually broke my foot playing futsal and was completely put off the sport. That same night, I saw a sign for pickleball and while I was off with a broken foot, I started looking into pickleball.
“Coming from a tennis background definitely helped. It was so much fun and so social and it’s just genuinely really fun to play.”
Ms Isbey’s first ever pickleball competition was the nationals in September last year and she returned with two doubles gold medals.
“My first tournament was nationals and I did reasonably well,” she said.
“I partnered with a local player and played in the divisions and we ended up getting gold in the mixed doubles, then I partnered with a lady from Sydney and we got gold in the women’s doubles.
“I also tried the open women singles with no expectations and managed to get a bronze. From there I decided to play in some of the competitive leagues, so I signed up to the National Pickleball League, which started this year and I’ve played two seasons of that. We got fourth both times.”
Ms Isbey said she had found her new home in pickleball and its community and hopes to set new goals next year.
“I think my strength is my competitiveness, so finding pickleball has been a godsend. It’s been a fun outlet for it and that’s what motivates me to improve and compete,” she said.
“My hope for next year is to play more tournaments, coach as much as possible and support Sean Wu, the coach of the Cairns and District Pickleball Club who’s trying to run tournaments here. I think for anyone who has or hasn’t heard about pickleball, give it a go.”
