For Ukrainian tennis ace Elina Svitolina, 2022 proved to be a mixed bag. On the one hand, Svitolina gave birth to a baby girl. However, on the other hand, she had to take a step back from tennis owing to her pregnancy. Her country, Ukraine, also suffered tragic losses due to Russia’s invasion. Svitolina, who recently announced her tennis comeback, has plenty to look forward to as she attempts to get back to the top of the WTA Tour rankings.
In a recent WTA Tour interview, Svitolina revealed her motivation to get back to her best shape. Her words were a throwback to what tennis legend Serena Williams said a couple of years ago.
Body positivity is a must, claims Elina Svitolina
From a physiological standpoint, pregnancy is one of the most complicated phases of a woman’s life. This is especially true for female athletes. Following childbirth, it can be difficult for a mother to feel confident from a physical standpoint. However, Svitolina seems to have found the secret to overcome this conundrum.
In the interview, Svitolina said, “We have to cherish our bodies”. She added, “In our bodies, we are capable of impossible things.” According to Svitolina, cherishing the present moment is important because the future is unknown and uncertain. “All these moments together that we have, we have to cherish them – because you never know what’s going to come next.”
Svitolina is already back playing tennis. Last week, she graced the court once again after a lengthy absence at the Saint-Malo WTA 125 tournament, the L’Open 35 de Saint Malo 2023. While she couldn’t win the tournament, the fact that she made it to the semifinals will give her some much-needed encouragement going into future tournaments.
Ukrainian Star Elina Svitolina Voices Out Support Over Her Country’s Latest Richard Branson Move
When Serena Williams stressed on the need for body positivity
The 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams has been vocal about body positivity throughout her incredible career, and even more so after giving birth to Olympia. Without her positive outlook, it would have probably been an uphill battle for the tennis icon to play again following her pregnancy and traumatic childbirth. The media also compared Williams to her sister Venus from time to time.
She responded to the critique in a 2020 interview. Williams said, “I like who I am, I like how I look, and I love representing the beautiful dark women out there. For me, it’s perfect. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Do you think the media overtly focuses on athletes who have experienced pregnancy? Give us your thoughts in the comments.
