Taylor Nichols Is Changing the Game – From Motocross to Adaptive Pickleball Champion
Taylor Nichols speaking at PickleCon on Adaptive Pickleball and Inclusivity.
We first met Taylor Nichols at PickleCon in Kansas City. And what stood out immediately wasn’t just his impressive resume, it was his openness. He spoke candidly about the barriers he faces as an adaptive athlete, from navigating the physical demands of competition to the mental toll of showing up in a sport that’s still learning how to be inclusive.
But what makes Taylor different is the way he flips those challenges into teaching moments. He’s not just sharing his story; he’s using it to open doors for others. It’s rare to meet someone who’s both a fierce competitor and a true advocate for change. Taylor is doing both.
The Crash That Change Everything
In December 2017, Nichols was 26 and living the life he’d always wanted: competing in motocross, working as a dental technician, and hitting big milestones, like buying his first home. Then a race in Missouri went wrong. A rough landing on the “whoops” section of the track shattered his T6-T8 vertebrae and left him paralyzed from mid-torso down.
Doctors told him to sell the house, settle into assisted living, and adjust to a life of limitations. His response? “Yeah, right.”
Nichols leaned into rehab with the same energy he once gave the race track. He worked relentlessly on core strength, walked with braces, tried adaptive snow skiing, wheelchair basketball, even played on the USA Wheelchair Football League’s Dallas Cowboys team. He was determined to stay in the game, even if the game looked different now.
A Chance Encounter at Chicken N Pickle
It wasn’t until a date night at a Chicken N Pickle venue in 2022 that he found his next true love: pickleball.
“I didn’t know anything about the sport,” he said. “But I realized this really could be for anyone.”
Pickleball gave Nichols something he hadn’t felt in years – a place to compete, connect, and belong. He was struck by how naturally the sport welcomed all abilities. He could team up with standing players in hybrid doubles. He could rally, strategize, and trash talk — just like old times.
Most importantly, he could show up fully as an athlete.
Making History (With a Triple Crown to Prove It)
Taylor Nichols with his medals from the 2024 USA Pickleball National Championships
In 2024, Nichols made headlines at the USA Pickleball National Championships, where he won gold in three divisions: wheelchair singles, wheelchair doubles, and hybrid doubles. That made him the first adaptive athlete to take home a Triple Crown title at Nationals.
But for Nichols, it wasn’t just about medals – it was about momentum.
“It means the world to me,” he said,”but what’s more satisfying is seeing how much adaptive pickleball has grown over the last year.”
He’s been part of that growth every step of the way – whether it’s through his exhibition match with pro Anna Leigh Waters or leading inclusive play at events across the country.
A Voice for the Adaptive Community
Today, Nichols serves as the National Adaptive Pickleball Coordinator for Chicken N Pickle. He designs programs, runs clinics, and helps every location keep accessible gear on hand, so anyone can roll out and play.
He also co-founded the Para Pickleball Program in Dallas, a nonprofit working to expand the sport to people with disabilities. Through these efforts, he’s introduced hundreds of new players to the court.
“I get more satisfaction seeing someone else do something they didn’t think they could do,” he says. “That’s the win for me.”
Taylor Nichols and a group of pickleball players playing through the Para Pickleball Program
One moment that stands out: a woman in a power wheelchair, watching from the sidelines at Chicken N Pickle. Nichols encouraged her to give it a try. She hesitated. Then she said yes. Five minutes later, she was laughing and spinning around on the court. “I haven’t had this much fun in 20 years,” she told him.
She’s now a regular.
Finding Purpose (and a Bigger Platform)
Nichols is also backed by Adidas as a sponsored athlete, a move that highlights not just his talent, but his growing influence in the sport.
His personal motto is: “An athlete is an athlete.”
What drives him isn’t the titles. It’s showing people what’s possible. He’s clear that the real legacy isn’t the wins; it’s who he brings with him.
Why You Should Care
Nichols is a visionary helping the sport move forward: making it more inclusive, more accessible, and more reflective of players who show up to play every day.
As pickleball continues to grow, stories like his remind us that the court has room for everyone. And sometimes, the most powerful champions are the ones rewriting the rules altogether.
Follow Taylor on Instagram to keep up with what he’s got going on!
