Q&A with Martina Navratilova

Source: AARP.org

Martina Navratilova has earned an unmatched number of records during a professional tennis career that spanned an amazing four decades. She is now AARP’s Health and Fitness Ambassador, promoting active lifestyles at any age.  The nine-time Wimbledon singles champion and International Tennis Hall of Fame member was named one of the “Top 40 Athletes of All Time” by Sports Illustrated.  As one of the first openly gay sports figures, Navratilova spent much of her career overcoming prejudices and stereotypes.  Her most recent book, Shape Your Self, helps readers achieve personal fitness and healthy living.  She resides in Florida and Colorado, outplaying women half her age on the tennis court.

1. What have you found about your 50s to be the most surprising? The most enjoyable? The most challenging?

• Surprising: I still have energy to do everything I want to do.
• Enjoyable: Having the time to spend with my friends and family—and developing those relationships.
• Challenging: I still have no idea why we're here!

2. What challenges did/do you face as an openly gay celebrity? Are there special challenges that gays and lesbians face at age 50+ that their younger counterparts do not?
Of course, coming out is the most difficult thing for anyone, though I really didn't struggle that much. What is difficult is that, as a celebrity, as soon as I am seen with a woman, people assume we are a couple, which can be tricky. The younger generation has many more rights, and with so many more visible gays, homosexuality is not as big a deal and not as much of a "life changer." And the new generation is so unapologetic—I love that. We are getting closer and closer to when it will be a complete nonissue.

3. What is your favorite guilty pleasure?

Chocolate—what else?

4. What’s your best cure for workout boredom?

Doing anything outside—with a friend, preferably.

5. How do you keep your athletic skills sharp in your 50s?
It is more difficult. You try just as hard but just cannot jump as high as you did 20 years ago. But, I can still jump! So I pretty much do everything I used to do to keep sharp, but just not for as long. The same drills that worked then still work now. But the longer you let your skills go, the longer it takes to get them back, be it endurance, quickness, flexibility, etc.

6. What has been your most outrageous autograph request?
Signing various body parts, which I don't do lest they should get the wrong idea :).

7. How do you get your news each day–newspaper, Internet, or TV?
All of it. Right now I am browsing the 'net on my Blackberry at a WIFI spot ... in Paris.

8. Do you believe parents push their kids too hard in sports? At what age do you believe children should begin playing sports competitively?
Yes, they absolutely do. Every parent thinks if their child works hard enough, he or she can play professional basketball, tennis, etc. Reality is out the window. I think 10 is plenty early to compete in anything. I think long term, most of all, give the kids the opportunity, push them a little, and see where it goes.