Rockhampton pickleball player Lauren Myors defies autoimmune disease

One year ago, Lauren Myors could not walk without the aid of crutches. Now the inspiring mum has become a star in the new sport of pickleball.

Lauren Myors won gold and silver at the 2025 Queensland Pickleball Championships in Brisbane.

Central Queensland athlete Lauren Myors has made a radical shift from the rigours of obstacle course racing to the booming ranks of pickleball.

A gifted tennis player in her teens, it’s probably no surprise that she is excelling in her new field and has recently been crowned a Queensland champion.

Her on-court achievements are remarkable given that about a year ago, the mother-of-three was unable to walk without the aid of crutches for about two months due to excruciating foot pain.

The resilient 36-year-old has since been diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis, an autoimmune disease which causes severe pain and joint damage, reducing mobility and, in some cases, rendering sufferers bedridden.

Lauren Myors won gold and silver at the 2025 Queensland Pickleball Championships in Brisbane.

Myors has for 16 years been living with ankylosing spondylitis, a type of arthritis she said affected her hips and spine.

Symptoms of her latest condition first emerged as she was preparing to represent Australia in the Obstacle Course Racing World Championships in Belgium in September 2023.

About six weeks out from the international event, her feet were aching but she put it down to her intense training regime.

“I thought I might have damaged some ligaments or even sprained my ankle and I had plantar fasciitis in both feet as well, but I was determined to compete,” Myors said.

“I wanted to get to Belgium so I decided I would get it sorted when I got home.

“I was in terrible pain but it’s incredible what the body can handle.”

Lauren Myors with her Australian teammates Zane Keleher (left) and Michael Rains at the Obstacle Course Racing World Championships in Belgium in 2023.

On her return to Rockhampton, an x-ray showed there were no broken bones in her feet.

While Myors stepped back from her regular training routine, she soldiered on with day-to-day life, putting up with the pain.

A visit from her brother Ben Dawson that Christmas led to her introduction to pickleball.

Myors said it was her Aunty Kay who first suggested she try the game but it was Dawson who got her to pick up a paddle, somewhat reluctantly, and give it a go.

“Though my movement was limited at that stage, I loved it. The transition was pretty easy for me having the tennis background,” she said.

Myors started playing competitively and quickly rocketed up the rankings, reaching number three in Australia in her age division.

But by August, the pain was unbearable and she stopped playing.

Further medical tests led to the inflammatory arthritis diagnosis. She was referred to a rheumatologist and is now on medication to help manage the symptoms.

Lauren Myors has gone from obstacle course racing to pickleball after her diagnosis with inflammatory arthritis. Photo: Hayden McAndrew

Myors has come to accept her condition and is determined not to let it get the better of her because she is keenly aware of the consequences of not staying active.

“The more you don’t move, the worse it gets,” she said.

“I’m a mum of three daughters and they definitely motivate me because the last thing I want is to be bedridden and unable to do things with them.

“We have a family business, too, so I can’t afford to not be able to move.”

Sport has been an essential part of Myors’ life - and she wants to keep it that way.

“I want to stay healthy and I want to be moving, that’s all part of it, but sport for me is my getaway.

“I love sport, any sport, no matter what I play. I’ll give anything a crack.”

Rockhampton's Lauren Myors finished 31st in her age group at the Obstacle Course Racing World Championships in Belgium in September 2023.

Myors appreciates there are now limitations on what she can do physically but she is excited to be part of the worldwide pickleball phenomenon.

“It’s a lot better for my body; my feet still hurt but nothing like when I was running up to 80km a week and training for OCR and Spartan every day,” she said.

“I can’t do the intensive training like I was, my body can’t handle it, so this is a happy medium.

“Deep Heat is my best friend.

“It’s like an hour’s prep to go and just have a social hit of pickleball.

Rockhampton's Lauren Myors and her brother Ben Dawson won gold in the 35-plus mixed doubles at the Queensland Pickleball Championships earlier this month

“I need to make sure I have taken my anti-inflammatories, I have the Deep Heat on, I’ve done my stretches… it’s a bit of a process.”

Myors returned to competitive pickleball this year and a fortnight ago, claimed the Queensland Championships mixed doubles crown with Dawson and won silver in the open women’s doubles with Jessica Hughes.

She is now set to join hundreds of competitors taking part in the 10-day Yeppoon Pickleball Festival, which starts with the Queensland Pickleball Tour event this weekend.

The festival started with 79 players in 2022 and has now grown into one of the largest events in the Southern Hemisphere.

Myors is playing the women’s doubles with Yeppoon’s Catherine Boreham and the open mixed doubles with Gladstone’s Ian Bates.

“A medal would be great but I’m just hoping to have fun and come out of it pain free, that’s my goal,” she said.

Originally published as Rockhampton pickleball player Lauren Myors defies autoimmune disease