Out Spotlight XXXII

How can you not mention Martina Navratilova on one the biggest tennis days of the year.

Martina Navratilova was born on October 18, 1956, in Prague, Czechoslovakia, Martina emigrated to the United States in 1975 to pursue her tennis career in an atmosphere of freedom after a life time under Communist rule. . By the end of the 70s, she secured place in tennis history, crowned the WTA Tour Player of the Year twice, acquiring her first two Wimbledon singles championships, and attaining her first (of many) number one rankings.

That was just a warm up. By the early 80s, she became the most dominant player in tennis. That is not just women's tennis, but all of tennis. In ‘81, she won the Australian Open while 1982 saw her take both the singles and doubles championships at Wimbledon and the French Open. In 1983 three Grand Slam titles that year, bringing her record for the year to a remarkable 86-1, a year-long winning percentage that has never been matched. 1984 saw her extend her record to six Grand Slam singles titles in a row before her 74 game winning streak was snapped in the semi-finals of the Australian Open. Her success continued through the decade as she reached the semi-finals in all 11 Grand Slams held in the years 1985 – 1987 and in 1990 she hoisted the Wimbledon dish one last time, bringing her to an all-time record of 9 Wimbledon singles titles.

She was named one of Sports Illustrated’s “Top 40 Athletes of All-time” for her overall contributions to the world of athletics, and in 2000 she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. In 2003, she won the mixed-doubles titles at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon, making her the oldest player to win a Grand Slam title and also giving her a Grand Slam “boxed set” (winning all four Grand Slams playing singles, doubles, and mixed doubles).

For all her incredible success on the court, Martina Navratilova has achieve as much respect off the court for her openness and activism for gay rights, environmental organizations, animal rights, and under-privileged children. Her philosophy is not only giving her money but also her time to those in causes that which she knows she can make a difference, for causes for those who cannot help themselves and those charities which she has an emotional connection. She is involved in LGBT organizations and is respected for her refreshing honesty about her sexuality. When asked by the press about her relationship with author Rita Mae Brown, she admitted it and announced she was a lesbian, she was one of first public figures, not just in sports to do so.

But what makes Martina set apart is that even after coming out, it never changed her standing or the opinion of who she was. She did not become Lesbian Tennis Legend Martina Navratilova, she's just Tennis Legend Martina Navratilova. Her sexuality did not become a label, it was just part of who she is. She has done something remarkable in sports, coming out during the height of her career. It did not effect her performance, her identity in her sport, her fan base, the sport of tennis, and for many who were watching her sponsorship. She is one of only a handful of athletes to come out while still actively participating in their sport.

Labels are for filing.
Labels are for clothing.
Labels are not for people.

~Martina Navratilova

M-A-R-T-I-N-A by Phranc

Just a little nod to the men's final today.