Lost everything, but won so much 😎

At the end of 2025, Rebecca Legon, editor of Movao, encouraged me to try adaptive padel. Since stepping away from tennis — knowing it would never feel the same after my amputation — but still wanting to stay active and take on new challenges, it sounded like the perfect fit. And unlike tennis, I have no expectations based on my previous level.

Rebecca was full of enthusiasm about the Inclusive Padel Tour (IPT) and connected me with Alessandro Ossola, the founder of IPT and a former para-athlete. When I reached out, he invited me to Dubai for the season finale. It was an incredibly kind gesture — but I had my doubts. I hadn’t even picked up a padel racket yet.

I was tempted, of course, but a bout of flu ended up making the decision for me. I promised Alessandro I’d get some practice in and join the tour in 2026.

The IPT was created so people with amputations or similar disabilities can compete together. With a small adaptation, wheelchair users, above-knee amputees, and players with significant mobility challenges are allowed two bounces. As an above-knee amputee, that means I also play with two bounces. Matches are always played in doubles alongside an able-bodied partner.

With that in mind, it was time for me to actually pick up a racket and start learning the game.

Getting a Grip (and a Racket)

Fortunately, some of my tennis friends had recently started playing padel, so I began practicing with them. My first sessions were with my friend Kees, who kindly lent me a racket and showed me the ropes.

Honestly, it felt amazing to be playing a racket sport again — even if it wasn’t tennis.

Of course, I’ve had to adapt my swing, and the tactics are completely different from tennis. And using the glass walls takes some getting used to. But the game is full of energy and a lot of fun. I can absolutely see why people say it’s addictive.

My biggest challenge? Footwork and positioning, naturally.

I’ve been playing every week with friends Kees, Dré, Martijn, and Stijn, who have been helping me improve as quickly as possible. But padel isn’t my only hobby right now. I’ve also been learning to snowboard, run with a running blade, hike, and cycle.

Yes — I’m a new amputee, and I’m excited to try everything.

Unfortunately, my left knee has become a bit overloaded, so I’ve had to slow things down a little. And as you might guess, that hasn’t exactly helped my footwork on the court.

While I was learning the game, another exciting idea also started taking shape back home.

Bringing the Tour home?

Through Kees, I connected with the manager of our local padel club. Alessandro and his organization, Bionic People, are eager to host a tournament in the Netherlands, so we’re currently exploring the possibilities together.

The idea is to organize an exhibition match this July to generate interest and attract sponsors, with the goal of hosting an official tournament here next year. 😎

After a couple of months of practice, it was finally time to see how I would manage in a real tournament setting.

The Turin Experience

I signed up for the first IPT tournament of the year in Turin, and last weekend was the big moment. My girl-friend Margot joined me, and we decided to turn it into a long weekend since neither of us had visited Turin before.

The atmosphere was fantastic from the moment we arrived at the hotel on Friday night. On Saturday morning we were greeted with a cheerful:

“The Dutchies have arrived!” 🤩

At 9:00 a.m., we gathered at the Robilant Padel Center. After a bit of what I’d describe as “classic Italian chaos” (at least from our Dutch perspective 😇), everyone had a T-shirt, a partner, and a match schedule. We were ready to go.

When Alessandro saw me, he recognized me right away — even though we had only spoken online before. He gave me a big hug and welcomed me into the family.

Since my amputation only happened last May, I had never seen such a large group of amputees together — not even during rehab. Seeing so many people who refuse to let anything hold them back and who compete at such a high level was truly special. 💪

Of course, after the warm welcomes and introductions, it was time to step onto the court.

"All the Excuses"

My partner for the day was Melanie, a French woman living in Turin.

Melanie and I lost every single match — by a mile — but we had an amazing time. She ran all over the court for me, and we gave it everything we had.

The level of play is pretty high, though — especially when you’re just seven months post-amputation, dealing with a knee injury, and have only been playing for two months.

Yeah, yeah… excuses, I know. 😇😂

Throughout the day, whenever I wasn’t playing, I found myself chatting with wonderful people from all over the world. Everyone was curious about my story, and I was equally inspired by theirs.

As for my game — well, as I mentioned earlier, my timing with the glass walls is still tricky, and my movement toward the ball is… let’s just say “poor” might be a generous description.

I’d been working on my footwork, but with my left leg overloaded, I was moving even worse than usual. That definitely doesn’t help when your opponents understand the game far better than you do.

I’m still very much a rookie, but Alessandro gave me some great advice about using short lateral steps. He’s absolutely right.

Time to practice.

After a full day of matches, it was time to relax and celebrate the tournament together.

Trophies and Toasts

Margot, Melanie, and I grabbed a glass of prosecco at the club. Melanie told us all about Turin, which made us curious to explore the city center.

We returned to the courts just in time for the awards ceremony. Alessandro gave a moving speech in both Italian and English.

Melanie’s boyfriend won a prize, so naturally she “borrowed” his trophy so we could pose like champions for a photo. 😂

That evening, we had a big group dinner. After such an intense day, we collapsed into bed and our comas. After a good night’s sleep, the tournament continued the next day.

A Glimpse into the Future

On Sunday, the tournament moved to another location. I caught a ride with David from Tuscany — a great guy with an above-knee prosthesis who had absolutely crushed me on court the day before.

This was an Adaptive Padel Tour event for players with disabilities. My partner was Alice, an Italian woman with a striking tribal tattoo covering her prosthesis.

Unfortunately, we ended up in what felt like the “group of death,” facing last year’s winners and several other top pairs. We lost the first two matches decisively.

But our final match against Sheena and Mike turned into a real thriller. We were evenly matched, and it came down to a deciding tie-break.

Alice and I narrowly lost.

Zero wins. All matches lost.

But that final match gave me a glimpse of what’s possible.

Now I know there will be many more incredible matches ahead — with amazing people from all over the world. People who, like me, refuse to let a missing limb hold them back.

I’m incredibly proud to now be part of this community.

As I write this, I’m already checking flights for the next tournament in Venice.

I can’t wait.

With the tournament behind us, we still had a little time left to enjoy the city.

Ending on a High

Margot and I spent Sunday night and Monday morning exploring the heart of Turin. It’s a beautiful city — grand squares, charming narrow streets, and incredible food.

We found a tiny restaurant serving fantastic Italian dishes and even better wine.

Well… we were there anyway, right? 😎

We returned to Rotterdam feeling incredibly grateful.

As the title says: I may have lost everything on the court — but I won so much that weekend.

See you soon,
Movao Champion: Chris Kunkeler