Celebrating 10 years of pickleball in Loma Linda

Loma Linda University (LLU) Drayson Center welcomed the Loma Linda pickleball community on Sunday, July 12, to celebrate 10 years of pickleball in Loma Linda and honor Loida Medina, MD, who was an active community member and beloved player known by many as the "godmother of pickleball."

Medina, who was featured as the "godmother of pickleball" in the Netflix documentary Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, passed away unexpectedly in May.

Local pickleball club ambassadors and players, LLU Drayson Center members and staff, and Loida's loved ones gathered for a tribute program, followed by two pickleball matches held in her memory and led by her son, Ernie Medina, DrPH, assistant professor of Public Health at Loma Linda University and a USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) board member.

What began in the fall of 2016 as a small group of pickleball enthusiasts has grown into one of the largest recreational sports communities in Loma Linda. This low-impact, age-friendly paddle sport is the fastest-growing sport in the United States and embodies Loma Linda University Health's longstanding commitment to helping people stay active, connected, and healthy throughout their lives.

"I don't look at pickleball as just a fun game. I look at it as a physical intervention tool," said Ernie, one of the founders of the Loma Linda's Pickleball Club. "It's a great way for people of all ages and all abilities to stay active and healthy.

Loida Medina dedicated her life to caring for others through her work as a physician, her commitment to family, and her involvement in the community. She continued practicing medicine into her 80s and embraced an active lifestyle, spending countless hours on pickleball courts. Donations made in her memory will support the Drayson Center Fitness and Wellness Fund, designated for pickleball programs.

"One thing my mom loved was the Drayson Center because she felt it was a wonderful place to meet people and stay active," said Kimberly J. Knowlton, DrPH, Loida's daughter, director of the Drayson Center, and assistant professor of Public Health at Loma Linda University. "We're hoping her tribute donations will help continue what she loved most."

Those wishing to celebrate Loida Medina's life and lasting impact on the pickleball community can learn more about her tribute and make a memorial donation here.