NAPLES, Fla.—Naples pickleball participant F.D. Wilder is coming residence from Vietnam with a gold medal after serving to Workforce USA win the Masters division on the 2026 Pickleball World Cup.
For Wilder, 65, merely making the U.S. roster was a shock.
He was chosen for Workforce USA after competing in a mix related to the U.S. Open in Naples earlier this 12 months. Wilder mentioned gamers tried out for spots throughout 5 divisions, with the highest three males and three girls chosen in every age group. He competed within the 60-and-over Masters division.
“It was an surprising honor, I have to say,” Wilder mentioned. “And simply the competitors and the camaraderie, and the entire expertise of being on this a part of the world, and seeing the explosive development of the game, and the way it’s in a position to deliver individuals collectively was simply, I might say, a as soon as in a lifetime reminiscence.”
The World Cup was held in Da Nang, Vietnam, from Aug. 30 by means of Sept. 6. Metropolis officers mentioned practically 5,000 athletes from 81 nations and territories participated.
The event additionally set a Guinness World Report for essentially the most nationalities represented in a pickleball championship, with 78 formally acknowledged.
Workforce USA despatched about 30 gamers throughout 5 age divisions, and Wilder mentioned the Individuals received gold in 4 of them.
After advancing by means of pool play, the Individuals beat Mexico, Brazil and South Korea earlier than assembly Australia for gold. Wilder mentioned the Masters group went undefeated all through the event, and he was on the court docket to place away the ultimate level towards Australia.
However a number of the moments Wilder remembers most got here away from the scoreboard.
“Our workforce chief put an actual emphasis on sportsmanship,” Wilder mentioned. “In order the U.S., we sort of need to position mannequin, you recognize, the respect and the integrity of the sport.”
Wilder mentioned the medals confirmed Workforce USA’s outcomes, however he hoped the best way the gamers carried themselves confirmed one thing extra.
“I believe the medals sort of inform individuals like how we competed, however it was actually our habits that I hopefully advised individuals like who we’re as Individuals,” Wilder mentioned.
One second away from Wilder’s personal matches stood out.
He watched Workforce USA’s Open workforce play Iran and mentioned the 2 workforce captains embraced after the match.
“It is the humanity that was right here and the popularity of sports activities’ means to unite,” Wilder mentioned, calling the embrace a second he would keep in mind “past the medals.”
He’ll come residence with a gprevious medal from his first journey with Workforce USA, and an enduring reminiscence of how the Individuals represented their nation.
