Coco Gauff isn’t the only one in her family who is a well-known figure in their local community. From athletes to community activists, the family of the American tennis prodigy has a long legacy of driven individuals. Even her grandmother Yvonee Lee Odom is a former basketball player and a community leader who played a crucial role in desegregating schools in South Florida in the 1960s.
For her philanthropic initiatives for society, the former classroom teacher made a name for herself while also frequently making headlines in local newspapers. However, with her tennis star granddaughter’s recent Grand Slam success, things have now changed a bit according to Odom’s latest disclosures.
Coco Gauff’s grandmother reveals how the tables have turned after her US Open success
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After tasting her maiden Grand Slam success in New York, Coco Gauff has now attained the moniker of ‘America’s new tennis queen’. The 19-year-old overcame Aryna Sabalenka in a challenging three-set matchup on her home soil as she secured the US Open crown. And now, because of the young WTA sensation’s recent success, things have changed a bit for her grandmother. ‘
She's the teenage queen of Queens.
Coco Gauff captured her first Grand Slam title on Saturday.
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2023
In an interview with NPR, the former athlete said, “Oh, people say, oh, that’s Ms. Odom granddaughter, because people knew me in the community – all the people I taught and everything and Little League, football and all that kind of stuff.”
Yvonee Lee Odom, who is a well-known community leader in Florida, is now being labeled as ‘Coco Gauff’s grandmother’. She added, “And then it got the reverse, so now I’m known as Coco’s grandmother (laughter).”
As if she had won the US Open, the social activist disclosed that she too received a flurry of texts and calls. The tables might have turned for Odom, but her granddaughter has rarely herself back from lauding her noble endeavors.
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Gauff hailed her grandmother during her triumphant run
Even during a press conference at the US Open. the 19-year-old was heaping admiration on her community activist grandmother. Gauff asserted that Odom’s philanthropic works were far more impressive than her own mental health awareness campaign for athletes.
The reigning Grand Slam champion also said that it was her grandmother who taught her to deal with every challenging situation with kindness and understanding. Furthermore, Odom is the one who always reminds Gauff that she is a person first and not just a tennis superstar.
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What do you think of Gauff’s respect and admiration towards the former community activist? Let us know in the comments section.
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