“I didn’t imagine my sexuality would become a major issue to anybody." ~Martina Navrátilová
Martina became known for taking women’s tennis to an entirely new level with her speed, aggression, and fitness. Still, in her quest to become one of the greatest athletes of all times, Martina had to overcome several hurdles in her life. Her image especially suffered when it became known that she was gay. Her public declaration in those times cost her millions in endorsement dollars. Even her parents didn’t understand initially, accusing Martina of being overly sensitive and revealing her emotive birth father committed suicide when she was young. Martina struggled with her image throughout her career but remained a strong proponent for the rights of the LGBT community, speaking at the 2000 Millennium March in Washington, DC. She married her wife in New York in 2014 and together they raise two daughters and numerous adorable purebreds and mutts.
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US Open, 1991