When it came time to decide between medals or trophies for the Paddle Games winners, two things made the choice clear.

First, a trophy has presence. It’s something you can lift high on the podium, something that catches the light and says victory. It’s easy to display at home or carry through the airport — that unmistakable moment when someone asks, “What did you win?”

Second, just like last year, we wanted the champions to end the ceremony in true Formula One style — with champagne flying and laughter echoing. We had a feeling those trophies would become makeshift champagne cups before the night was over.

And sure enough… they did.

But what truly confirmed we’d made the right choice came later, when Olympic medallist and multiple world champion Fernando Pimenta shared on his social media that winning a trophy at the Paddle Games made him feel like a happy child again — remembering the last time he received a trophy instead of a medal, when he was just sixteen.

Sometimes, a trophy isn’t just a prize. It’s a reminder of those childhood moments when we fell in love with the sport.