Gavin Manders made a successful trip to Trinidad, winning two golds and one silver medal in some of the region’s most prestigious pickleball events.

Manders won gold in the Caribbean’s first-ever Minor League Pickleball event, gold in the Open Elite Mixed Doubles and silver in Open Elite Singles at the ANSA Open, with the tournaments reinforcing the growing depth of the sport in the region.

After travelling home, Manders is keen to emphasise that supporting the success of the tournament was more important than his individual accomplishments.

“Winning the medals was obviously rewarding, but for me the bigger takeaway was seeing how much the sport continues to grow throughout the Caribbean,” Manders said.

“The level keeps getting better, the events keep getting stronger and the relationships between islands keep getting deeper.

“As a player, I still love competing. I love challenging myself, testing my game against the best players in the region and representing Bermuda whenever I step on the court. That competitive fire is still very much there.

“But what drives me even more today is the opportunity to inspire the people around me. I’ve been fortunate to have incredible people invest their time, knowledge, and belief in me throughout my journey, and I feel a responsibility to pass that forward. If my experiences, successes, failures, and lessons can help inspire one young athlete, one new player, or one person to believe a little bigger, then that’s something I value just as much as the medals.

“I’ve always believed Bermuda can lead by example. Not because we’re the biggest country, but because we’re willing to dream, innovate, and bring people together. Seeing other islands continue to grow the sport, host major events, and build opportunities for their players is exciting because it shows the vision is becoming reality.

“I see a sport that is changing lives, bringing communities together and creating opportunities throughout the Caribbean. Being able to contribute to that both on and off the court is something I'm incredibly grateful for.”

Manders was accompanied on the trip by Mical Russell and was pleased to see his compatriot building relationships with other players in the region.

“He came down to establish his level and see what he’s able to do,” Manders said.

“He didn’t win any medals down there but he did well. The main thing that happened for him is that he established himself as somebody that now should be looked at to be a part of one of the stronger teams.

“He was building his profile, making it easier to get partners and making more connections. He also played very well and he's continuing to grow his game and evolve, which is why he was part of Bermuda’s Caribbean Championship team and his goal is to continue to represent Bermuda at the highest level.”