Grand Rapids Duo Plays Pickleball for 28 Hours Straight

Two friends from Grand Rapids just played pickleball for 28 hours straight and shattered a world record while honoring a beautiful memory.

Brad Haverkamp and Caleb Dang met through their local pickleball community and decided to tackle the Guinness World Record for the longest singles marathon. The previous record stood at roughly 24 hours, but they didn't just break it. They obliterated it by adding four more hours to their epic match.

The duo played 141 games total, with Brad winning 87 of them. But the real challenge wasn't physical stamina. It was mental endurance.

"I think at a certain point, your brain just shuts off and you're on autopilot," Caleb told a local news affiliate. "I might as well have blacked out for the middle 20 hours of that attempt."

Guinness World Record rules give competitors five minutes of break time for every hour they play. Brad and Caleb used a three-hours-on, 15-minutes-off cycle throughout their attempt.

Those breaks disappeared fast. By the time they changed shoes, used the bathroom, and stretched, they were back on the court.

Brad got creative with nutrition. Whenever Caleb had to chase down a ball, Brad would sprint to his food table and grab water or shove down some food. Every second counted when you're trying to sustain yourself for nearly a full day.

Why This Inspires

What transforms this from a wild athletic stunt into something truly meaningful is the purpose behind it. Brad lost his daughter Olivia in 2020, and the Olivia Haverkamp Early Learning Center was established in her memory.

Brad committed to making a donation to Gift of Life Michigan for each of the 24 volunteers who helped make the event happen. The cause is deeply personal. Organ donation represents hope and second chances, themes that resonate when you've experienced profound loss.

"When you lose somebody you love, especially at an early age, it reminds you that tomorrow is not promised to any of us, and you want to use every day for good," Brad said. "This felt like an opportunity to do some good while we're having fun and setting a record."

That's exactly what makes this story stick. Breaking a world record is impressive, but doing it while honoring someone you love and raising money for a cause that saves lives? That's the kind of determination that reminds us what humans are capable of when we channel grief into purpose.

Two guys, one court, 28 hours, and a legacy that will outlast any record book.