It’s time to make a confession. When I was chosen as one of the nine fellows, I was thrilled for many reasons, including the unique chance to tour the United States at such a pivotal moment for the country, to learn about the integration of AI in newsrooms, and to share this journey with eight outstanding journalists from around the globe.
But I also had a secret reason: playing pickleball!
I’ve been into this incredible sport since 2024, playing regularly in Brasília, the capital of Brazil, since early 2025. At first, it took me a while to take seriously the idea of a sport that mixes tennis, badminton and table tennis on such a small court. But eventually, it hooked me – and I began to understand why it’s the fastest-growing sport in the United States.
“You’ll be back in Brasília as a pro!” some of my friends joked before I traveled. “Play as much as you can.”
Throughout my life, I’ve played soccer, tennis, padel and even boxing. But none has given me the chance to make new friends as quickly as pickleball has.
I keep thinking about why this sport, with its small paddle and yellow, perforated ball, blew my mind. I have a few theories beyond its social side: it’s dynamic, explosive, and each rally tends to only 7 or 8 seconds on average. Every point demands a new strategy and gives you a chance to get creative.
I’m convinced that sports have a unique power to bring people together, creating shared experiences that break down barriers. Thanks to pickleball, I’ve connected with an amazing group of people in Brasília who are now close friends. And here in the United States, it hasn’t been any different.
“I’ve been following your trip on social media, but I still haven’t seen any pickleball!” joked Beto, my coach back in Brazil, during my first days of the fellowship, a period of adaptation and discovery.
Before the fellowship began, I traveled through the Pacific Northwest and fulfilled a dream: visiting Bainbridge Island in Washington state, the place where it all began in 1965, the real Mecca of pickleball. It’s where Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum invented the game using a badminton net, ping-pong paddles, and a Wiffle ball to entertain their children.
“Is it like being at Disney?” my wife asked me that day. Yes.
Over the past five weeks, I’ve played in Minneapolis, Grand Marais, Minn., and Chicago, with new people and my host parent, Liz. I’ve played indoors on professional courts for the first time, and outdoors just like back home. I still have a few challenges waiting for me on the courts once I return to Minneapolis.
At the same time, to stay connected with my friends in Brazil, I’ve been sharing photos and short videos of the matches I join.
“We miss you here! How far are we from them?” one friend from my club, where I use to play between three and four times a week, wrote after I shared pictures of a stunning indoor facility in Minneapolis.
On the U.S. courts, many players have asked me if pickleball is “something big” back home in South America. My Argentina jersey has followed me to every game. It’s both an ambassador and a small reminder that in South America, we love this sport too.
That simple question often opened the door to conversations about sports and culture. Mmany Americans are curious about my region and my two countries: Brazil where I live and Argentina where I was born and raised.
Sports have always been more than just games. They’re a universal language. I like to think that sports could be the global one that Esperanto tried to be.
Until the end of the fellowship, my goal remains the same: to play as much as I can. Every new city I visit is another chance to learn more about journalism, play pickleball and make new friends along the way.
