John McDaniel knew he had to try. Even if he didn’t win a single game at the U.S. Open Pickleball Championship last April, he still needed to give it a shot.
But unlike any other competitor in the tournament, McDaniel played with an oxygen tank strapped to his back. He managed to earn a bronze medal while doing so.
“I told my wife and others that suggested I maybe shouldn’t play because of my health issues, that I was going to play anyway,” McDaniel said.
Doctors recently diagnosed McDaniel with a lung condition called pulmonary fibrosis. There is no cure and life expectancy is typically less than five years.
But John didn’t stop that from competing in pickleball, a game he loves and has played for years.
“I just decided that if there’s a will, I’m gonna find a way,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel uses a portable oxygen pack for pickleball. He consulted with his doctor before using the device and only needs it for playing a sport or exercising.
The Fort Myers man hopes his story will inspire others who have medical setbacks.
“Try to find a way to do what you love to do,” McDaniel said.
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