Tennis icon and human rights advocate Martina Navratilova receives the 2024 BBLA Award
Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association is pleased to present the 2024 BBLA Award for Unparalleled Service to the Czech and Slovak Communities to Martina Navratilova, a tennis icon and outspoken advocate for freedom and equality. She will be honored on September 25 at the 2024 Annual Gala: Bridge for Hope. Please join us for the event.
“Martina Navratilova is a shining example of resilience, commitment and leadership. Few individuals who escaped the oppressive regime of former Czechoslovakia have achieved such extraordinary success in their profession as Martina. Her journey from political exile to world tennis stardom is nothing short of inspirational.”
Joseph Balaz continues: “Martina did not just excel in her sport, she redefined it. Her achievements on the court are legendary but it is her character off the court that truly defines her as a role model. With her warm personality and keen intelligence, she has become an icon not only for her athletic prowess but also for her advocacy and outspoken stance on issues of equality and human rights. Martina’s life story is a testament to the power of determination, courage and the pursuit of excellence. By awarding her this honor, we do not merely celebrate her accomplishments but the indomitable spirit she represents as well – a spirit that resonates deeply within our community and the values we uphold.”
MARTINA NAVRATILOVA is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. With unparalleled skill in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, she revolutionized women's tennis through her fitness, speed, determination, and agility. As Billie Jean King once said, Martina is “the greatest singles, doubles, and mixed doubles player who’s ever lived.” At just 18 years old, after losing the 1975 US Open semi-final, Martina made the life-altering decision to defect from Soviet-controlled communist Czechoslovakia. She walked into the US Immigration and Naturalization Service in New York City, seeking political asylum and the freedom to pursue her tennis career.
Martina is the only tennis player in history to have spent over 200 weeks as world number one in both singles and doubles. She holds the record for nine Wimbledon singles titles, contributing to her total of 18 Grand Slam singles titles. In doubles, she claimed 31 Grand Slam titles and added 10 more in mixed doubles. Martina is one of only three women to achieve the rare feat of winning singles, doubles, and mixed doubles titles at each of the four Grand Slams: Wimbledon, the US Open, the Australian Open, and the French Open. Remarkably, her last Grand Slam victory came just shy of her 50th birthday, in the 2006 US Open mixed doubles.
Martina is an outspoken advocate for freedom and equality, and her impact extends beyond the tennis court. Her activism has been recognized with awards such as the National Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign and the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award. She has made various television appearances, including on “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “The Politician,” and “Will & Grace.” Additionally, she is an accomplished author, having written an autobiography, a fitness guide, and three mystery thrillers. Currently, when not providing analysis of tennis for television audiences around the globe, Martina lives on a small family farm in Florida with her wife and their two daughters, continuing to inspire both on and off the court.