Marie's dream of Padel tennis

When Passion Becomes a Calling - The Story of Padel Project

Some encounters in life do not feel accidental. They feel like a recognition that cannot be explained by logic, but only by the body. For me, it happened in May 2025, when I stood on a padel court for the first time. I had never imagined that this very moment would set in motion a process that would transform my relationship with my body, my dreams, and my identity. Even after the first few shots, I could feel that something was different. It was not merely the joy of movement or the competition in the game. It was a deep, physical sensation that something was beginning to awaken. It was not a short-lived enthusiasm. It was an inner knowledge that this encounter mattered.

From Experience to Choice
In the months after May, padel quickly became a permanent part of my life. I played often, thought about the game, analyzed shots, and felt my body slowly begin to understand the movements. But most importantly, a clear realization emerged: If I were to honor this passion, I had to take it seriously. Therefore, in July 2025, I made a conscious decision. I would make padel a project with a clear direction and a concrete goal. This is how Padel Project was born – not as an attempt to escape everyday life, but as a way to integrate the dream into a life that was already full. I am 38 years old, a full-time mother, a solo provider, and I live an alternative family life with unschooling. I do not fit the image of the classic athlete. That is precisely why the project also became a statement. I wanted to explore what happens when you stop waiting for the perfect circumstances and instead work with the life you already have.

A Journey of Structure and Patience
In September 2025, I took the next step and hired my first coach in Valencia. It provided valuable insight, but also a realization that continuity was more important than distance. Already the following month, I switched to a local club and a regular coach, and it was here that my development truly began to gain momentum. With two to three weekly training sessions, padel became a discipline that required both focus and prioritization. My technique became sharper, my movements more efficient, and my understanding of the game's rhythm grew. But alongside the physical development, something else was happening.

The Mental Game Behind the Shots
I have a strong mental and psychological background, and I experience padel as a mirror of precisely this work. The game is fast, intense, and filled with adrenaline. It requires explosiveness and quick feet, but at the same time, the ability to remain calm, find timing, and strike with control. The hardest part is not the pace. It is being able to be in the adrenaline while simultaneously maintaining a calm and controlled shot with as long a ball contact as possible. For me, every match becomes an exercise in presence, regulation, and trust in the body. This is where my mental experience becomes a real strength – not as theory, but as practice in motion. 

Pushing Yourself Without Losing Yourself
Padel Project is not about sacrificing the body for results. On the contrary, I have had a clear focus on sustainability from the very beginning. I consciously work with recovery, listen to the body's signals, and choose whole foods over supplements such as creatine and powdered solutions. I want to build strength from within and create a foundation that can support me over time – both physically and mentally. I want to be strong now, but I also want to be able to move freely and with joy many years from now. For me, that is more important than quick results.

Two Roles, One Movement
Alongside my development as a player, I am working purposefully to build myself up as a padel influencer. Not as a role, but as an extension of the project. I want the communication and the game to grow together, so that authenticity remains intact. It is about showing the process, the doubt, the discipline, and the joy – and about giving others the courage to believe in their own dreams, regardless of age and life situation.

A Dream That Is Already Real
 The goal for Padel Project is clear: To reach category 2 by July 2026. But the value of the project cannot be measured by rankings and results alone. It lies in the transformation that has already taken place. Padel Project is, in fact, the story of a person who chose to listen to an inner movement and take it seriously. About daring to invest time, energy, and heart in something that makes sense – even when life is not simple. And perhaps that is precisely what the project shows most clearly: That dreaming does not require perfect conditions. It requires presence, courage, and the willingness to stand by the process, even when it is demanding. For me, padel is no longer just a sport. It has become a living expression of who I am – and who I am becoming.