‘I’ve Experienced Gymtimidation as a Professional Athlete’- Venus Williams Shares How She Overcame Her Social Fear

7-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams has been one of the role models for many tennis players around the world. Along with her sister Serena, she has broken many records on a tennis court. The 41-year-old American is also a role model off the court for thousands of youngsters. 

Even at the age of 41, Venus is still one of the fittest players on the tour. Recently, Venus talked about gymtimidation (anxiousness about working out in front of others) and how it affected her mentally, and how she recovered from it. 

Venus Williams is inspiring people even at 41

Recently in an Instagram post, Venus Williams revealed that she felt very vulnerable while working out at a gym. Seeing other people doing better than her made Venus insecure about herself. 

“It may be hard to believe that I’ve experienced gymtimidation as a professional athlete, but unfortunately, comparing yourself to others doesn’t stop once you reach a certain level. There have been many times that I’ve looked over at someone else in the gym and compared how heavy their weights are or how much faster they’re going on a treadmill than me,” Venus said. 

Later, the 5-time Wimbledon champion overcame this fear by using a simple method. According to her, one should always focus on themself rather than watching others. 

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“It can make you feel extremely vulnerable, but over time, I’ve worked to overcome this uneasiness by building up my own confidence and mental toughness, which can be as simple as feeling good in your outfit or grinding to the right playlist.” Venus further said. 

What’s next for the Williams sisters?

Venus Williams last played in August 2021 in Chicago. Since then, she hasn’t played in any tournaments. Recently, Venus withdrew from the Australian Open as well. She played very few matches in 2021 and fans are eagerly waiting for her comeback in 2022.

Meanwhile, her younger sister, Serena Williams, is still pursuing her 24th Grand Slam title. She is currently nursing a hamstring injury that she suffered at Wimbledon last year. Fans missed seeing her at the Australian Open, but they are hopeful that she will return at the French Open in May. 

Can the Williams sisters win one more Grand Slam before they retire? Let us know in the comments. 

Read More: ‘End Up Watching a Lot of Serena’: Venus Williams Reveals Admiration for Serena Williams’ Game