MANILA, Philippines — World No. 1 pickleball player Anna Leigh Waters is taking her message beyond the court, emphasizing health, discipline and focus as the fast-growing paddle sport continues to attract more players in the Philippines and around the world.
Waters, one of the biggest names in global pickleball, has been named the latest Global Sports Ambassador of Philippine health and wellness company IAM Worldwide, bringing one of the sport’s most recognizable athletes into the brand’s international sports push.
The partnership connects Waters’ high-performance athletic career with a broader message about maintaining healthy habits and staying disciplined both in competition and everyday life.
Waters: Success starts with health
For Waters, elite performance is not simply about what happens during a match.
She has emphasized that focus, discipline and taking care of one’s health are central to her approach as an athlete.
“Everything I do on and off the court comes down to focus, discipline and performing at my best,” Waters said in comments reported by Philippine media.
She also stressed that taking care of one’s health is an important foundation for achieving long-term success.
That message is particularly relevant as pickleball moves beyond its reputation as a recreational pastime and develops into an increasingly competitive international sport.
Why Anna Leigh Waters matters to pickleball
Waters has become one of pickleball’s defining stars, competing at the highest level while helping raise the sport’s profile among new audiences.
Her rise mirrors pickleball’s wider transformation. What began largely as a recreational paddle sport has expanded into a professional competition with growing communities across North America and Asia.
The Philippines is part of that expansion.
Dedicated pickleball facilities and local communities have been growing nationwide, attracting players from different generations and experience levels. Philippine media reports describe the sport as increasingly visible across Metro Manila and other parts of the country.
A sport built around movement and community
Pickleball combines elements familiar from tennis, badminton and table tennis, but its smaller court and social format have helped make it accessible to a broad range of players.
Its growing popularity has also made it attractive as a recreational activity for people looking for more movement and social interaction.
Philippine health and sports initiatives have likewise used pickleball to promote physical activity, teamwork and wellness. A 2026 Department of Health-related tournament in Davao, for example, highlighted the sport’s role in encouraging wellness, camaraderie, discipline and sportsmanship among health workers.
The growth of the sport therefore extends beyond professional competition—it is increasingly becoming part of the country’s broader recreational and fitness culture.
Waters joins a growing sports-and-wellness push
Under the new partnership, Waters will represent IAM Worldwide’s athletic initiatives and promote the company’s IAM Amazing Organic Barley Gummies.
IAM Worldwide said Waters’ discipline, athletic achievements and commitment to excellence aligned with the company’s health-and-wellness positioning.
Waters, meanwhile, described the partnership as a natural fit because of its emphasis on performance and wellness.
The collaboration gives the Philippine-based company an international sports figure as it seeks to connect its brand with athletes, pickleball players and active consumers.
Pickleball’s Philippine moment
Waters’ appointment arrives as interest in pickleball continues to build locally.
From dedicated courts to organized tournaments and community programs, the sport is finding a growing audience among Filipinos.
The trend has also attracted other international and Filipino athletes and brands. Earlier in 2026, health and sports campaigns in the Philippines featured local pickleball players while promoting active lifestyles and the sport’s growing community.
That momentum could give pickleball an even bigger platform as more Filipinos discover the sport.
More than winning matches
Waters’ message ultimately goes beyond trophies and rankings.
Her partnership places the spotlight on the idea that athletic performance is connected to consistency, preparation, discipline and taking care of one’s overall well-being.
For a sport experiencing rapid growth, having a world No. 1 athlete promote those values could help shape how a new generation of players approaches pickleball—not simply as a game, but as part of an active lifestyle.
As pickleball continues its rapid expansion in the Philippines, Waters is betting that the next generation of players will learn that success begins long before the first serve.
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