Pickleball is exploding across college campuses in the United States and international students are helping lead the way.
As we celebrate International Students Day, we’re spotlighting two standout athletes who traveled across the world to study, compete, and make their mark on collegiate pickleball.

From Warsaw to Missouri. From Brazil to Arizona. From England to North Carolina.

These athletes show how global the sport has become  and how college programs across the U.S. are welcoming players from every corner of the world.

Szymon Zawartko — Drury University (5.5 DUPR)

Hometown: Warsaw, Poland

Szymon’s pickleball journey began with a simple gift: a colleague of his dad returned from the U.S. with paddles, a net, and a few balls. His dad brought him to a training session in Poland, and Szymon was hooked immediately. His background as a top-25 junior tennis player in Poland helped his transition, but pickleball brought out a new kind of creativity he hadn’t felt before.

Training in Poland wasn’t easy. Warsaw, a city of nearly two million people, didn’t have a single dedicated pickleball court. Szymon sometimes traveled two hours just to find a competitive practice partner.

That’s why coming to the United States changed everything. He went from chasing any court he could find to joining Drury University, the first school in the country to offer full pickleball scholarships and run pickleball as an official varsity sport.
The access, coaching, the tournaments, and the structured collegiate environment opened a completely new chapter for him.

“I’m really happy that I can pursue my dreams here — in the home of pickleball — where I have constant access to the sport.”

He’s watched the level of collegiate pickleball rise year after year and still remembers being surprised by the talent level at the World Championships.

“I didn’t expect players like that. It really makes me happy.”

The toughest part of this journey hasn’t been the competition; it’s been distance.

“Leaving my family, whom I’m very close with, and my girlfriend Monika… I miss them very much.”

Even with that, pickleball has given him a sense of home.

“The pickleball community is amazing everywhere I go. Everyone is very kind and helpful.”

Szymon believes global growth is coming fast, especially in Asia and eventually Europe, and he hopes to keep competing after college, maybe even at the pro level.

Evie Kenna — NC State University (5.08 DUPR)

Hometown: England

Evie Kenna discovered pickleball by accident. During a team-bonding day with her Division I soccer team, she stepped onto the local courts in Wilson, NC, picked up a paddle, and immediately felt something click. What started as a fun outing quickly turned into a new athletic direction.

Her soccer background gave her natural advantages, such as fast movement, anticipation, and competitiveness, and she soon found herself competing in collegiate pickleball.

Moving to the U.S. wasn’t easy.

“The hardest part was leaving my family and learning a whole new culture while playing a full D1 sports schedule.”

She didn’t just have to adjust to classes and training; she had to adjust to American food, traditions, and the intensity of college sports. But pickleball became her anchor.

“The pickleball community definitely helped my transition. That’s how I met practically everyone in Wilson, and even how I met my boyfriend!”

Evie has watched college pickleball evolve quickly:

“The level gets better every year. We’re starting to see some powerhouse programs now, which is pretty cool.”

She sees big differences between England and the U.S., mainly the number of courts and players , but England is catching up fast with several DUPR Clubs starting to open. Her mom recently represented England in the European Championships, competing against more than 30 countries.

Being an international student-athlete has shaped her entire college experience:

“Being an international student is so cool. I get lots of great opportunities. I’ve loved embracing true American culture and being such a huge fan of college sports.”

Through pickleball, she’s built a second home; one that’s far from England, but full of people who cheer for her just as loudly as the ones she left behind.

Artur Linhares — Grand Canyon University (5.27 DUPR)

Hometown: Brazil

Artur Linhares was introduced to pickleball through family. His cousin’s husband, Jon, brought the sport into their home, and before long, Artur and his entire family were playing. His background in beach tennis, soccer, and tennis helped him develop a unique style on the court.

“Beach tennis helps with reflexes and overheads, soccer with movement, and tennis helps with having good form.”

When he arrived in the U.S., he immediately noticed the difference in competition.

“There are more high-level players here, and I think more people have a solid soft game. In Brazil, there are a lot of players with great hand speed and drives.”

Artur didn’t know what to expect from college pickleball, especially since he was so new to it. But he was surprised by how quickly the level rose.

“College pickleball has evolved a lot. I went to the first nationals three years ago, and the level is much higher now.”

Artur shared that, like many international athletes, the hardest part of this journey has been simply missing home. But pickleball helped him find a community at GCU and make friends.

Representing Grand Canyon University has been one of the highlights of his college experience.

“It’s been nice to represent the school as an athlete and experience the thrill of competing at tournaments.”

Artur believes the sport is only going to grow from here. He’s not sure yet whether he’ll pursue it professionally, but he’s enjoying every moment on court. 

A Global Future for Collegiate Pickleball

Szymon, Evie, and Artur represent three countries, three stories, and one shared truth: pickleball is no longer just an American sport ;it’s becoming a global one. Their journeys show the courage it takes to leave home, the resilience required to adapt to a new culture, and the power of sport to create community anywhere in the world.

As collegiate pickleball continues to grow, international athletes will play an even bigger role in shaping its future. They bring new styles, new perspectives, and a passion forged from chasing opportunity across borders.

This International Students Day, we celebrate the players who bring the world to our courts and remind us that pickleball’s next chapter is global, diverse, and just getting started.

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