It has been a painful few weeks for Gavin Manders, Bermuda’s top pickleball player.

Shortly after he was crowned top male player at the Caribbean Pickleball Championships last month, Manders is unable to take to the court after suffering acute back spasms and a bulging disc.

He has also revealed that he was in hospital on the final day of the championships, fighting through the pain of kidney stones, which can be intense as anyone who has had them can testify.

Manders declined pain medication on the day, fearing that it would make him woozy on court, and led Bermuda both to team and personal glory.

“From a personal standpoint, this performance means a lot at this stage of my career,” he said.

“I’m no longer just competing for myself — I’m competing to show what’s possible and to lead the next wave. To still be performing at the highest level, winning across the top divisions, and leading from the front is something I take pride in.

“It wasn’t the easiest week physically, either — I was managing kidney stones and even had a hospital visit around finals — but that’s part of it. I’ve always believed that how you show up in those moments defines you.

“That comes from how I was raised. Having a big heart, resilience and grit has always been part of being a Manders — you find a way, no matter what.”

Manders is just as proud of his fellow Bermuda team members who picked up overall honours, with Benjamin Jones finishing third in the top male competition. Patricia Mills and Sasha Fisher finished first and second in the overall female competition.

“What matters more to me is what it represents for the players coming up behind me — and we’re already seeing that next level emerge in the Caribbean,” Manders said

“Benjamin Jones and Joel Azhar [Jamaica] are right there. They’re putting in the work, stepping into the highest divisions and proving they belong on this stage. That’s what this is about — building something that lasts beyond just one generation.

“On the women’s side, Patricia Mills and Sasha Fisher set the tone. Patricia leading locally and Sasha stepping into the professional level internationally shows exactly where our standard is heading. That balance across both the men’s and women’s game is a direct reflection of the work being done in Bermuda.”

Bermuda is leading the way in the Caribbean region and Manders is enthused about building the sport.

“For me, the mission is bigger than results,” he said. “It’s about using this sport as a vehicle — to inspire, to create opportunity, and to give the next generation a real pathway forward.

“I want them to see it up close — what it looks like to compete, how to handle pressure, and how to go to war when it matters.

“At the same time, this is about the Caribbean as a whole. We’re bringing the region together, raising the level and showing that we can lead in this sport.

“And respectfully, I’m still the top lion out there. Until someone comes and takes that spot, I’m going to keep setting the tone, leading from the front, and pushing the standard higher for everyone.”