Four pickleball players will try to break record for longest game this weekend
Last Edited
Apr 14 2025
Category
Community
A group of four pickleball players -- aptly named "The Pickle Breakers" -- will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for longest marathon rally playing pickleball this weekend in Texas.
The current record of 34 hours and 5 minutes was set in the UK, but the group is hoping to bring the title back to the U.S. with a goal of playing for 36 hours straight. They will begin their effort at 6 a.m. April 12 and (hopefully) finish at 9 p.m. April 13 at Pickler Universe in Carrollton, Texas. They will be allowed to take a 5-minute break each hour.
Their effort isn't just for the satisfaction of setting the record, though -- they're teaming up with the Taylor's Gift Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Coppell, Texas, that provides families with free grief support after the loss of a loved one. The goal is to raise awareness of mental health challenges and how pickleball can be an outlet in times of grief.
Meet "The Pickle Breakers"
Chong Kim
He's already completed a somewhat related pickleball challenge, playing pickleball in all 50 states in 45 days last year while spreading mental health awareness.
While on that trip, he met a woman who at one point held the record before it was broken by the group in the UK. He told her he would one day break that record and bring the title back to the U.S.
Other hobbies include running marathons and triathlons, mountain biking, volleyball, skiing and playing and coaching soccer.
Geneva Olson
Olson lives in South Dakota and works at an indoor pickleball facility there.
She got connected with Kim and the idea of pursuing a world record attempt while raising mental health awareness resonated with her because she previously lost a brother.
She also hopes to show her four daughters that they can do anything they put their mind to.
Jaret Petras
Petras is a sports scientist and video analyst who played college soccer at Stony Brook University and also played professionally in Europe.
He's a certified pickleball coach, 5.0+ DUPR and Czech National Champion in men's singles and men's doubles.
Laura Maala
Originally from Estonia, Maala now lives in North Dakota and has a passion for several sports, including volleyball, swimming, roller skating, disc golf and now also pickleball.
"The idea of setting a world record excites me as it combines my love for the sport with my drive to push my limits and achieve excellence," she said.
Join Pickleball’s Greatest Community
Subscribe to our FREE newsletter to be the most well-informed pickleball fan on the court, featuring news, giveaways, and much more!
