Tennis legend Venus Williams has run the gamut of experiences in her career as a player. She has achieved many great things in her life that others can only dream of. At 43 years of age, Venus is well past her prime, but she still inspires hope.
In a recent Q&A video on her YouTube channel, the star opened up about her life and career. Williams also touched on the life-threatening disease that almost ended her career.
When a fan, who was also diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome asked her how she deals with it in her daily life, she answered quite frankly. “In the beginning, it’s challenging because it’s all new. It’s not that easy to navigate,” said Venus.
“The hallmark symptoms of Sjogren’s are dry eyes and dry mouth and it can be really, really bad, that your eyes are so dry you can’t function,” she said. Venus also added how the disease can manifest itself in other debilitating ways like cancer.
Williams emphasized finding your limits when living with an autoimmune disease. “Find out what your limit is once you’re living with an autoimmune disease. If you push past that, you can start to crash,” was her advice.
Venus Williams was diagnosed with this autoimmune disease in 2011. With this diagnosis, her career almost came to an abrupt end. Venus, however, has found ways to manage her symptoms and continue playing.
What is Sjogren’s syndrome and how did Venus Williams deal with it?
Sjogren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease, meaning that the immune system starts attacking the body of the host. It mainly affects the eyes and mouth, causing dryness. It can also result in fatigue and muscular problems.
Williams was already in her 30s when she was diagnosed with the disease, halfway through the US Open. Venus opted not to play any more matches for the rest of the year.
She decided to change her diet when the doctors informed her that the medications could take months to work. The tennis star opted for a raw vegan diet, which involves eating only fresh, plant-based food.
Venus wanted to keep up her performance on the court despite her condition. “I fell in love with the concept of fueling your body in the best way possible. Not only does it help me on the court, but I feel like I’m doing the right thing for me,” she said (via Health).
The decision came to her very easily because her condition was affecting the one thing she loved-tennis. It has been over a decade since Venus was diagnosed. Despite this huge setback, Williams has continued to play tennis. Venus was and is an absolute inspiration.