Never mind the popular image of Americans as sedentary, housebound, and living on the couch. It turns out a whopping 80% of us are physically active, according to a new report from the Sports and Fitness Industry Association. That’s 247 million people getting up and breaking a sweat as opposed to just 20%, or 62 million, who remain exercise averse. It’s a continuation of a recent trend in the U.S.—and it’s fueled in part by the astonishing growth in one sport in particular.
Pickleball saw a 46% increase in players from 2023 to 2024—and a jump of 311% in just the past three years.
