May 29 tennis player Serena Willians was returning to a Grand Slam after being a mother in September 2017. And he did it at Roland Garros winning, as is customary in it.
It is also usual to set a trend with their models on the track. And this time it was no different: he wore a full monkey Nike, with which he claimed in networks to feel like a hero and be a tribute to the mothers who had a bad time in their postpartum.
But the tight suit, chosen for medical reasons, has been banned by the French Tennis Federation and Nike has come out in defense of the tennis player on Twitter:
"You can take the superhero out of his suit, but you can never take away his super powers."
You can take the superhero out of her costume, but you can never take away her superpowers. #justdoit pic.twitter.com/dDB6D9nzaD
- Nike (@Nike) August 25, 2018
A choice of health, not styling
The replacement of the classic set of pants skirt and sports top with a full black mesh, short sleeve, long pants and a red belt tight at the waist, had a medical explanation:
Since Serena gave birth to her daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian, she had blood clotting problems, something that almost cost her life during childbirth. As the tennis player explained in an article published in CNN:
“After delivery I suffered a pulmonary embolism, which caused me a cough so intense that it opened the caesarean section wound. Upon entering the operating room again to close the incision, doctors found a large hematoma of clotted blood in my abdomen. So I had to undergo a new operation to prevent clots from reaching my lungs. And when I was finally able to go home, I spent the first six weeks of maternity in bed. ”
Still, she feels fortunate to have survived. “I reached the point where I could barely breathe. Some days I couldn't even get out of bed. ”
Hence, when he reappeared in Paris, he decided to choose a tight, one-piece model that will help you with your clotting problems and to serve as an example to other recent mothers. This was explained in his Instagram account.
"For all the mothers who had a difficult recovery from childbirth. Here it is, if I can, you too."Catsuit anyone For all the moms out there who had a tough recovery from pregnancyhere you go. If I can do it, so can you. Love you all
As explained by Jared, Serena wanted "Pay homage to all mothers and how difficult postpartum recovery is."
And is that Serena herself commented: “I feel like a warrior when I use it, like a Wakanda queen maybe”, said the player referring to the movie 'Black Panther'. And he added: "It is also comfortable to wear."
Rain of criticism and support
Despite his explanations, many were still intrigued why the athlete had chosen this set that, with a temperature of 25 ° C, did not seem the most suitable for playing tennis.
Bernard Giudicelli, president of the French Tennis Federation, went further in an interview with 'Tennis Magazine' that will be published in September (according to L'Equipe):
“I think sometimes we have gone too far. This year's Serena combination, for example, will no longer be accepted. You have to respect the game and the place. Everyone wants to enjoy. ”
Now, the Federation has banned playing with models like Serena's. And the comments have not been expected. The athlete declared that she respected the decision of the organizers, but that she used it for health reasons. And he has clarified that he no longer needs to use this set because he has discovered that compression stockings also allow good blood circulation. In fact, he wore them in Wimbledon, when he reached the final.
And the icing on the cake has been set by Nike, with its support tweet, which has already been retweeted thousands of times and has more than 2,000 comments applauding the initiative of the clothing brand.
Serena, motherhood icon
There is no doubt that Serena Willians has become an example for other mothers. Since her daughter Olympia was born on September 1, 2017, the tennis player has joined the list of celebrities, such as Chrissy Teigen, who openly talk about her motherhood, even sharing moments when she feels vulnerable.
This is Serena's last tweet with her little girl, where she simply has an anecdote that other mothers recognize as their own and that makes one feel identified with the American athlete. But his Twitter account is full of 'small big' details.
"The children humiliate us. The other day, on a flight home, Olympia insisted on running down the hall and when I finally got her to stay still, she threw up on me."
Kids humble us. The other day on a flight home Olympia insisted on running up and down the aisle and when I finally got her to sit still, she threw up all over me. #ThisMama would love to hear your stories of motherhood… even ones like this! Share and tag them with #ThisMama. pic.twitter.com/9N5duB2M3t
- Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) August 26, 2018
Because sometimes motherhood is not as idyllic as it is initially thought and is even more difficult in cases of elite athletes.
Like the Belarusian tennis player, Victoria Azarenka, who recently returned to the tennis courts after having her son in December, declares how difficult it is for a woman to be a mother without losing her recognition in sports.
First of all, you have to keep in mind that in this sport pregnancy is equated with an injury, so that the sports career is suspended until the return to the tracks, losing the place in the international ranking. Serena Willians moved from first place to 491, in just 14 months. She still played when she was eight weeks pregnant and did not return to the court until Olympia had turned six months old.
The strict calendar, which forces the players to travel the world to accumulate points to qualify for the biggest competitions, makes tennis one of the sports with less facilities so that women can reconcile have a child and maintain their professional level.
And it is that the policy of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) only protects their ranking for eight tournaments, and without the option of doing so as heads of series, a measure that pressures the players to have to return as soon as possible, with the psychological and physical difficulties of their profession.
But the winner of 23 Grand Slam hopes to be up in no time. Today he already occupies the 26th position in the WTA ranking, although he also acknowledges that he has not lived his sports career the same since he is a mother:
“Knowing that I have this beautiful baby waiting for me at home makes me feel that I don't have to play another game. I don't need money or titles or prestige. I love them, but I don't need them. It's a different feeling for me. "
Reality has already shown that you can be a mother and stay in the sport's elite. As Blanca Manchón did, she was terminated when she became pregnant and has returned to be world champion in Windsurfing only seven months after her son Noah was born.
And it is that in Spain, even Spanish footballers are forced to sign 'anti-pregnancy clauses' to continue exercising their profession.
Luckily, the examples of these mothers courage help us to overcome the day to day. So when we even feel bad mothers for continuing with our professional career instead of dedicating ourselves exclusively to the care of your children, we can think about them and their desire to excel. We are not alone.
Photos | Trendencias, @serenaWilliams and @Nike
