In his first racquetball tournament back since spinal surgery in 2021, Marc Burns made a triumphant return as he returned to win two championships at the 14th annual David Posnack JCC Racquetball Tournament in Davie.
The 72-year-old, who lives in Delray Beach, hadn’t competed in a tournament for 20 months. He defeated Anthony Gambone, of Pembroke Pines, 15-2 and 15-0 to capture the 70 singles division championship and followed that up with a 15-4 and 15-7 win in the 65 doubles division with doubles partner, Bob Lerow, of Bradenton. They defeated Gene Fry, of Casselberry, and Boca Raton’s Tobias Kaye.
“I guess an objective observer would say my racquetball comeback is, if not complete, at least on the right track,” said Burns, who suffered a back injury in September 2021 and spent a month in a wheelchair before undergoing microdiscectomy surgery in October. He herniated a disc in his back that was pressing on a nerve. “Before the surgery, it felt like 50,000 knives were perpetually plunged deep into my leg.”
He said he wasn’t sure how the injury happened, but said it was likely from 45 years of intense racquetball competition.
Burns started his comeback in March 2022 by swimming, stretching, weight work and then Pilates classes for core strengthening. He started practicing and ultimately playing again last October.
“In many ways, these were the most important and rewarding gold medals I’ve ever won,” said Burns, who has captured over 100 gold medals during his career. “Considering, I had been wheelchair-bound and in excruciating pain in the fall of 2021, then the surgery, and then the arduous, year-long rehab. I feel incredibly blessed and grateful to be back playing this game that I love so much again.”
