Thriving after Cancer & Doing What You Love
- Martina Navratilova, a 9-time champion Wimbledon champion, returned to the court for the 2023 Wimbledon Mixed Invitation Doubles.
- “Good Morning America” anchor Robin Roberts was recently cheering her on on the sidelines.
- Navratilova, who previously battled breast cancer in 2010, shared in January 2023 that she had been diagnosed with both stage one HPV-related throat cancer as well as early-stage breast cancer. Thankfully, she announced last month that she had received “the all clear” following treatment.
- Roberts overcame a battle with breast cancer in 2007 and a battle with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS, a type of blood cancer) five years later.
Navratilova is a 9-time champion of The Championships, more commonly known as Wimbledon the oldest tennis tournament in the world. Though Navratilova has been retired for many years now, she’s since made many appearances at the event as a commentator and invited player. An her many fans can rejoice knowing Navratilova made another return to the Wimbledon court for the 2023 Wimbledon Mixed Invitation Doubles.
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“Exciting to see @martinanavratilova back on the grass courts of #Wimbledon for the first time since she announced she's cancer free,” Roberts wrote in her caption.
And Roberts has been a fan of Navratilova for quite some time. In a recent segment for GMA, Roberts’ co-stars asked her if she remembered the 1994 Wimbledon after sharing an old clip of Roberts reporting from the event.
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“I remember it very well,” Roberts said. ” It was Martina’s last match here at Wimbledon. It’s one of the rare times that I turned in my press pass.
“I brought a ticket ’cause I wanted to sit in the stands and be able to cheer, ’cause, as you know, in the press you can’t show favoritism, can’t cheer.”
Robin Roberts and Martina Navratilova Overcome Cancer
For Robin Roberts, seeing Martina Navratilova’s triumphant return was likely a very special moment since both her and Navratilova are cancer survivors.
Navratilova, who previously battled breast cancer in 2010, shared in January 2023 that she had been diagnosed with both stage one HPV-related throat cancer as well as early-stage breast cancer.
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“I noticed an enlarged lymph node in her neck during the WTA finals in Fort Worth,” the statement on her website read. “When it didn't go down, a biopsy was performed, the results came back as Stage 1 throat cancer.
“At the same time as I was undergoing the tests for the throat, a suspicious form was found in her breast, which was subsequently diagnosed as cancer, completely unrelated to the throat cancer. Both these cancers are in their early stages with great outcomes.”
Thankfully, her treatments were successful, and Navratilova shared that she was in remission just last month.
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“After a day full of tests at Sloan Kettering, I got the all clear!” she wrote in June 2023. “Thank you to all the doctors, nurses, proton and radiation magicians etc- what a relief:)”
Roberts, too, has faced multiple battles with cancer. She overcame a battle with breast cancer in 2007 and a battle with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS, a type of blood cancer) five years later. But, just like Navratilova, she is healthy today and continues to do what she loves. And Roberts’ determination to keep working at “GMA” throughout treatment served as inspiration for other cancer warriors everywhere.
"They saw me bald, they saw me barely 100 pounds,” she said of “GMA” viewers. “But they see me now thriving. And it gives them hope for whatever they’re going through, whether it's a health crisis or another challenge.
“Everybody’s got something. I just love being the symbol to people that this too shall pass, whatever it is.”
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