Hundreds filled the Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman ballroom to hear from tennis icon Venus Williams on Saturday, 13 June, for a CG BritCay Wellness Showcase.
CG BritCay’s group corporate wellness manager, Donovan Ingraham, said, “We believe in the power of real stories to inspire healthier living, resilience, and performance, and when possible, we invite guest speakers to our markets to help bring our wellness message to life across the Caribbean,” adding that “Venus Williams was a natural fit”.
Moderator Vicki Wheaton guided a broad conversation through a live panel discussion with Williams, covering various aspects of her life, including her sports career, creative ventures, family and health journey.
Williams brings a decorated professional resume to the stage having achieved the world number one ranking in both singles and doubles by the Women’s Tennis Association.
Her career includes 49 WTA Tour-level singles titles, featuring seven Grand Slams – five at Wimbledon and two at the US Open. She also earned a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, won the 2008 WTA Tour Championships, and secured 22 doubles titles, which include 14 majors and three additional Olympic gold medals.
During the panel discussion at the event, titled ‘Strive Forward: A Conversation with Venus Williams’, the tennis player reflected on her life on and off the court. She said that her parents always encouraged her and her sister, Serena, to know who they were off the court and to remain authentic.
She described how this upbringing, combined with sports, helped build her confidence at a young age. She encouraged attendees to stay active or play a sport and confirmed that she still plays tennis today.
After taking a couple of years off due to health issues, she acknowledged the difficulty of returning, but said that people’s appreciation during her return last year allowed her to relax and enjoy the game more.
Williams also discussed her advocacy work, particularly her successful push for equal pay at Wimbledon, which resulted in the tournament matching equal pay in 2007 after she met with British politicians in 2006. She added that a takeaway she learned throughout that time was how taking positive action for oneself can often inevitably benefits others.
Williams’ health journey
The conversation shifted heavily toward health and self-advocacy as Williams shared her experiences with medical issues. She endured challenges from uterine fibroids, but said that she was initially dismissed by doctors who told her she was just experiencing the effects of aging.
After receiving multiple incorrect diagnoses, Williams said that she conducted her own research and eventually found information on Instagram that led to her proper diagnosis.
She also briefly shared her experience with Sjögren’s Syndrome, an autoimmune disease, in 2011. Before the diagnosis, she said, she struggled on the court with physical symptoms, such as hand swelling, which affected her ability to return the ball effectively.
She urged the audience to be their own health advocates and conduct independent research, stating that healthcare professionals are not always right. She explained that her book, ‘Strive: 8 Steps to Find Your Awesome’, came alive during this period of managing her autoimmune disease, teaching her to give herself grace and that small efforts add up over time.
Attendees reflect on event
Event attendee Dominic Drobot, an 8-year-old youth tennis player living in Cayman who has played for three years, shared his thoughts on the experience.
“I really enjoyed that Venus talked about being confident, believing in yourself, and being positive,” he said.
Dominic added that his goal is to play professionally one day, to win Grand Slams, and to achieve the number one ranking.
Adrean Russell, another attendee, said he registered knowing that Williams has “a good life story”, adding that he recognises the inspiration she has been to many young women around the world.
“The messages Venus shared was very relatable. She talked about some personal struggles, as we all have. What’s most important is how you get over them and continue striving. I could apply some of what she said to my life,” Russell said.
Dr. Riva Robinson, a physician and former competitive gymnast, was visiting friends on the island and found out about the event just minutes before it started, describing it as a divine appointment.
“Seeing Venus was literally a dream come true. I grew up as a highly competitive gymnast in Texas, USA, and around the time that I was in my peak, aiming to go to the Olympics, Venus was on the rise,” Robinson said.
“Being able to see somebody who looked like me, who had the same passion that I had, showing up to the world and owning every bit of her beauty as a black child, gave me the strength and the power to keep showing up. Knowing that I was enough, just as I was, and I was capable of doing great things,” she added.
Robinson said she appreciated Williams’ humility and her openness regarding health advocacy, adding, “As a physician, I really appreciated her talking about being your own health advocate.
“So, for Venus to be able to keep going and pushing forward until she got the answers, I just love that she shared that [with us] … It’s so important that we know we deserve all the care, all the attention to live and for our bodies to feel whole,” she said.
Highlighting her biggest takeaway from the conversation, Robinson said, “Just to strive for more as we don’t have to accept the status quo. Some of us get stuck, assume that this is where we’re going to be forever and settle, but we don’t have to. Venus is such an incredible example of overcoming health and life challenges and being able to rise to greatness time after time.”
Related Videos
