According to Peter Shonk, he will not be filing charges following the event.
The man who broke his silence after being kicked in the face during a pickleball battle in a widely shared video has spoken up.
Peter Shonk, who was kicked in the face and momentarily knocked out, claims that despite having “lost memory for three hours,” he has “no interest in pressing charges” against his attacker.
Shonk stated in an interview with The Kitchen Pickleball, a blog devoted to the sport, that she plays pickleball for fun and challenge in addition to having a family and two successful businesses. “I don’t need to waste time on this guy.”
As of Friday afternoon, the kicking video has received over 2.4 million views on X after going viral earlier this week.
Many were surprised by the on-court confrontation, which took place during a tournament in Mexico, considering pickleball’s image as a pleasant sport.
This video is absolutely insane.
— The Kitchen Pickleball 👨🏻🍳 (@TheKitchenPB) November 18, 2024
It occurred after championship point from a tournament this weekend and the man that was assaulted, Peter Shonk, shared this video with us to post and wants everyone to know that he is ok.
While I understand things get heated at tournaments… pic.twitter.com/Mxxic8FbbS
The ultimate kicker approached the net after receiving a serve on match point, but he crossed the non-volley line unlawfully. The foot error cost his opponents the match and a point.
“Come on, let’s go!” yelled Shonk, who was celebrating on the other side of the net. F***, yes.
It quickly became heated as both sides went to the net to shake hands.
Shonk knocked the foot-failing man’s paddle out of his hands as he seemed to hold it out.
Shonk then bent over the net to retrieve the dropped paddle, suggesting that it had been an accident. Shonk fell to the ground in a heap after his opponent kicked him in the face.
After the victory, Shonk told the outlet, “I was just fired up.” When I tried to tap his paddle, it slipped from his grasp. Without malice, I leaned down to pick it up (for him) right away, but everyone was taken aback by what transpired next.