Sam Basford won a gold medal on his return to the pickleball court last weekend – six months on from a life-threatening adrenal crisis brought on by Addison’s Disease.
Sam is a popular figure on the English pickleball circuit, best known for being the UK’s first IPTPA Master Teaching Professional, former Pickleball England Regional Director and founder of SB Pickleball, an event, coaching and consultancy service. He also commentates at the English Open and English Nationals.
But Sam’s career as a high-level pickleball player was brutally cut short in December when the symptoms of Addison’s Disease, with which he was subsequently diagnosed, dramatically manifested themselves.
He collapsed on the way back from a night-time visit to the bathroom twice in successive nights. The first time luckily had no lasting impact, but the second saw him smash one of his front teeth out and get subsequently rushed to A&E.
It was an adrenal crisis – a full-body meltdown in response to stress common among people with Addison’s Disease. Exposure to physical and emotional pressure dramatically increases the chances of this type of extreme reaction among sufferers of the condition.
“One tooth took the brunt of the entire fall,” recalls Sam. “It was a pretty horrible situation and was a lot more dangerous than we realised at the time.”
In the ensuing six months, he avoided competitive action and stress-inducing situations of all kinds – until last weekend, when he tentatively returned to the court. He won a men’s doubles gold alongside Nick Hobbis at the Dinkin’ in the Big Hall with Fox event at the University of Nottingham.
“I’m so proud of my journey,” said Sam. “I’ve had to really take my time getting back to where I was before, and playing my first tournament was always going to be a big step. I am so happy to have come out with gold. I said to Nick that I had zero expectations and just treated it like a festival.
“It was more of a mental obstacle than anything. If I just play a normal practice session for two hours I’m fine and my medication carries me through it, but the mental ‘fight or flight’ state of competition is where I have to be more careful. Addison’s Disease means my body reacts very differently to other people’s, so I always have to be aware.
“In the last few tournaments before I was ill, I struggled with dehydration, nausea and just generally feeling dreadful but not knowing why. It was good for me to prove to myself I could play again and not have any issues. To win was a bonus.”
Despite the result, the Nottingham tournament will not mark the start of a gradual return up the rankings. “It was mentally stressful because I was worrying all day in case something happened,” Sam admits. “To be honest with you, I won’t be doing another one for a while.
“Don’t expect me to make a surprise comeback to the Franklin PPL or look to become the British Number 1. I can assure you, that’s not going to happen!”
Sam is now looking forward to starting his role as Director of Coaching and Events at Franklin Pickleball Club once its first venue opens in Kingston upon Thames, south west London.
Pickleball52 and the entire pickleball community wishes Sam all the best with this and other future endeavours in the game, as well as his ongoing efforts to raise awareness of Addison’s Disease.
