#NoMatterWhat - 5 sportspersons who overcame adversity and rose to the top
Sport has always encouraged humans to go beyond their limits. Over the course of many years, there have been many extraordinary players in various disciplines, who have overcome massive odds to rise up to the top. These players have endured hard times, difficulties, both on and off the field and have gone on achieve impossible things for their respective countries, thus gaining huge amount of respect in the process and inspiring people and sportsmen worldwide. Here are 5 such athletes who gave it their all despite being restrained by circumstances, just like how Puma encourages athletes to give their best no matter what:
#1 Martina Navratilova
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova’s journey in the sport was a roller-coaster ride, to say the least. The Czechoslovakia-born player initially had to adapt to new conditions and surroundings after migrating to the United States at the age of 18 in 1975, due to the political turmoil in her country.
She was stripped of Czech citizenship and was a temporary US citizen till receiving permanent citizenship in the summer of 1981.
Soon after migrating to the US, she found ample support from all quarters, and was able to concentrate on her game more than anything else, and eventually earned more fame as a US citizen.
She never let all the hoopla affect her, and won her maiden French Open Women’s doubles title, partnering Chris Evert, in 1975, and then the Women’s doubles championships with the same partner at Wimbledon the next year.
Navratilova won the first of her singles’ titles at Wimbledon in 1978, and became World number 1 for the first time. She successfully defended her crown the very next year too.
The southpaw worked relentlessly at her game and went on to finish her illustrious career with 18 singles Grand Slam titles, a record 31 doubles crowns and 10 mixed-doubles titles to become an all-time great of the game.