‘Encouraged to Be Cheerleaders’- Martina Navratilova Expressed Shock Over Glaring Disparity Between Girls and Boys in Sports

Martina Navratilova is a proponent of equality not just in sports, but also in the social sphere. Being one of the best tennis players ever, she has always voiced her opinion regarding the equality of women in sports.

In a recent interview, she talked about her arrival in the USA and seeing the disparities between girls and boys in sports. She compared it with the opportunities given in her native country, Czechoslovakia, which was under political turmoil at that time.

Martina Navratilova talks about the inequality in sports in the US

Navratilova talked about the equal of opportunities for both male and female players in her country. She mentioned how, even while going through a period of uncertainty, she did not face any discrimination because of her gender.

But when she arrived in the USA at the young age of 16, the prevailing system took her by surprise. She said, “I was really shocked when I came to the States at 16. I realized girls were not getting the same fair share as boys.”

READ MORE: ‘The Only Good Thing About Growing Up in a Communist Country’ – Martina Navratilova on How Men and Women Received the Same Push in Her Country

Furthermore, she gave the instances where girls were treated differently than boys. She said, “Girls were encouraged to be cheerleaders rather than actually playing the sport and different rules for basketball for girls and boys because girls couldn’t run that far. I was really surprised about that.”

Navratilova established a new legacy 

Martina Navratilova was only 18 when she defected from her native country and sought asylum in the US. She did not become a citizen until 1981 and remained stateless. However, nothing hindered her resilience in reaching the pinnacle of professional tennis.

The player gave her all to the sport and became world no.1 in 1978. Besides that, she won 59 grand slam titles during her glorious career. Out of these, 18 were singles grand slam titles.

WATCH THIS STORY: ‘Seems to Get Injured a Lot’ – Martina Navratilova Once Used Serena Williams’ Example to Talk About the ‘Fragmented’ Nature of Women’s Tennis.

Navratilova still stays connected with the sport, working as a commentator and pundit. Recently, we saw her don the role of a commentator during the Wimbledon Championships 2022.