"In the past, professional athletes were the stars while their trainers remained the unsung heroes behind the scenes. But with the rise of social media and personal branding, that dynamic has started to shift. Today, celebrity trainers can become stars in their own right, turning their access, expertise and lifestyle into brand deals, digital content and live events."
"Before he discovered pickleball, Manasse was entrenched in the tennis world, using his skills as a former collegiate player to coach pros like Shelby Rogers. He was with Rogers at the Indian Wells Open in 2020, preparing for the main draw, when the pandemic hit, and the tour was canceled on the spot."
"After a month of sitting at home watching the news and scrolling on TikTok, Manasse received an invitation that changed his life. Someone asked me to play pickleball, he says, and it immediately felt like a game I could love. His tennis background translated quickly."
Professional athletes historically dominated the spotlight while trainers worked anonymously behind the scenes. Social media and personal branding have transformed this dynamic, enabling trainers to build independent careers and personal brands. Matt Manasse exemplifies this shift, transitioning from tennis coaching to becoming a pickleball star known as "Pickleball McNasty." During the 2020 pandemic, Manasse discovered pickleball and quickly excelled, entering professional tournaments within months. He has since secured broadcasting roles on Tennis Channel and Pickleball TV, brand partnerships with companies like JOOLA and CÎROC, and established himself as a trainer to celebrities. His journey demonstrates how trainers can capitalize on expertise, access, and lifestyle to create lucrative careers independent of the athletes they work with.
Read at Entrepreneur
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