Sioux Falls Mother of Four Joins Team Attempting to Shatter Guinness World Record for Continuous Pickleball Play

What's the Score?

Geneva Olson, a 39-year-old mother of four from Sioux Falls and a director of pickleball, is part of a four-person team known as the Pickle Breakers. The team has embarked on an ambitious endeavour to break the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous pickleball game, aiming to play for 36 consecutive hours in Carrollton, Texas. The current record stands at 34 hours and 5 minutes.

Hit it deeper!

Geneva Olson’s decision to participate in this gruelling world record attempt is rooted in both her passion for pickleball and a deeper personal connection to mental health advocacy. The idea for this ambitious project was initiated by Chong Kim, a Korean-American athlete and mental health advocate who recently completed a tour playing pickleball in all 50 states in 45 days to raise awareness for mental health care.

Olson’s involvement began when she and her husband played pickleball during a break at their daughter’s marching band competition in Missouri. She was paired with Chong Kim, who was in the midst of his 50-state tour. Inspired by his mission, Olson followed Kim on Instagram and later reached out to offer encouragement, sharing her own story about her brother who had taken his own life. A few weeks after his tour concluded, Kim contacted Olson with the "crazy idea" of attempting to break the continuous pickleball playing record, believing she would be the perfect addition to the team.

The Guinness World Record guidelines for this attempt require the team to maintain the same partner throughout the 36 hours. Each hour, the teams are allowed a five-minute break, which can be saved and accumulated for longer breaks later, provided they are taken on the hour. Unlike regular pickleball games where players switch sides after each game, for this record attempt, side switches are only permitted after a break.

Joining Olson and Kim on the Pickle Breakers team are Jaret Petras, a pickleball coach and former Division I soccer player, and Laura Maala, an endurance athlete who is currently a nursing student in North Dakota. Olson anticipates that the mental aspect of playing for 36 hours will be the biggest challenge, and the team has developed strategies to stay engaged and combat boredom. She emphasizes the team effort involved, with each member bringing different ideas and communication being key to managing breaks and individual needs.

Olson’s involvement with pickleball extends beyond this record attempt. She serves as a director of pickleball at Remedy Pickleball Pub, playing a leadership role in encouraging participation in the sport within her community. Her introduction to pickleball was somewhat serendipitous – she bought cheap paddles on Amazon Prime Day for her four daughters. The paddles sat unused for a year before they finally tried the game and, despite an initial humbling defeat, Olson became quickly hooked, appreciating the sport’s multigenerational appeal.

The record attempt is being undertaken in partnership with Taylor’s Gift Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides grief support to organ and tissue donor families. The Pickle Breakers began their 36-hour pickleball marathon at 6 a.m. on Saturday at Pickler Universe in Carrollton, with plans to continue until Sunday evening. A livestream of the event, along with an opportunity to donate to the cause, is available at taylorsgift.org/pickleball.

The World Pickleball Verdict

Geneva Olson’s participation in the Guinness World Record attempt for continuous pickleball play is a remarkable story of personal resilience, community spirit, and dedication to both a sport and a cause. Her journey, from a casual purchase of pickleball paddles to attempting a gruelling world record while raising awareness for mental health and supporting organ donor families, is truly inspiring. This endeavour not only highlights the growing passion and dedication within the pickleball community but also demonstrates the unique ways in which individuals are using the sport to make a positive impact. The mental and physical endurance required for such an attempt is immense, and the Pickle Breakers’ efforts are a testament to the human spirit and the unifying power of sport.