Britain's top padel player Aimee Gibson has pledged to return stronger following a torn calf muscle that sidelined her during a tournament in Bahrain. The 34-year-old, who had been climbing the world rankings, is now focusing on rehabilitation ahead of a potential comeback in May. She credits the setback with renewing her appreciation for the sport.
Aimee Gibson, Great Britain's number one padel player, suffered a severe tear to her gastrocnemius muscle early in the quarter-final of the FIP Bronze Bahrain tournament last month. The incident occurred when the 34-year-old fell awkwardly on court, requiring her Spanish partner Alba Perez Momha to help carry her off. Gibson was then transported to a local hospital in significant pain.
Upon returning home, Gibson has been recuperating at her parents' house in Essex, where she describes herself as "driving them insane." She has spent the time catching up with friends, completing jigsaws, and studying online padel matches to prepare for her opponents. The injury disrupted a promising run: just before Christmas, Gibson and Perez Momha won three consecutive FIP titles, followed by another victory in the FIP Bronze Doha event in early February, elevating Gibson's world ranking to 89.
Gibson is approaching her recovery with determination, attending rehabilitation sessions in London three days a week. She can now perform weights and squats, marking progress after an initially difficult period. "The first three weeks were horrendous because I was seeing no improvement, but now I’m starting to see progress," she told The Padel Paper.
Reflecting on her packed schedule, Gibson acknowledges that her intense calendar last year— including wins in Hong Kong, Crete, Bahrain, and the inaugural National Championships, followed by trips to Australia and Qatar without a break—may have contributed to the injury. "I didn’t give myself any time off over Christmas and flew out to Australia on Boxing Day. It may have been too much," she admitted.
Her protective boot is due to come off in another week, followed by three weeks of further rehab before tentative steps back on court and running tests. Gibson aims to compete in domestic and FIP events around May, building toward Britain's first Premier Padel P1 event in London in August, where she expects a wildcard entry. Meanwhile, world number 70 Perez Momha is partnering with someone else temporarily, though Gibson hopes to reunite with her later. "Alba was there for me [after the injury], she took me to the hospital and supported me a lot," Gibson said. Despite the frustration, she remains optimistic: "With my mentality, I know I’ll come back stronger."
The hiatus has also shifted her perspective. "It’s difficult for me right now, but it’s made me a lot more grateful for what I’m doing. When I step back on the court, I’m going to fully focus on enjoying every moment that I can," she explained.