“I’m allergic to ignorance,” said tennis legend Martina Navratilova. Born in Prague in 1956, Navratilova’s greatness extends far beyond the court. She is well known for her record 18 Grand Slam singles titles and an astonishing 31 Grand Slam doubles titles. And for her serve-and-volley aggressive style of play that revolutionized women’s tennis. And for her 80-match rivalry—and friendship—with fellow legend Chris Evert, (with Navratilova winning 43 of those face-offs). And for being a champion of social justice through her advocacy of LGBTQ rights in the 1980s, when many athletes remained silent about their sexual orientation. Navratilova fearlessly came out as gay, paving the way for greater acceptance of LGBTQ individuals in sports and society at large.
But perhaps one area in which Navratilova’s accomplishments have been underappreciated is her remarkable longevity as an elite athlete. Through a rigorous regimen that included weight training, cardiovascular workouts, and flexibility exercises, she remained one of the top tennis players in the world well into her 40s. Navratilova believed that fitness was a lifestyle, integrating it into her daily routine. She was known for her meticulous attention to her body mechanics, and a lifestyle emphasizing mental resilience. She adopted a diet rich in fresh vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains, which helped her recover quickly from grueling matches.
This thoughtful holistic approach to training and diet—which enabled her to win titles into her 40s—seems like common sense today, but it was revolutionary at the time. Navratilova’s example opened doors for many athletes who followed in her footsteps. George Foreman made a sensational boxing comeback at age 45. Tom Brady built on Navratilova’s ideas to create the “TB12 Method” and played elite football into his mid-40s. And for other icons—like Serena Williams and LeBron James—longevity training and nutrition has become a standard part of their athletic regimen.
Navratilova’s mission may have been tennis greatness and winning titles, but her legacy is one of opening minds and combatting ignorance in numerous areas that have benefitted the generations that came after her.
