BBCFifty years ago, Martina Navratilova left everything she knew in the Communist Czechoslovakia to start a new life in the United States.
Then there is the 18-year-old high school student who is one of the most eye-catching defectors in the Cold War – she will continue to be one of the most iconic players in tennis.
But she spoke to BBC’s Amol Rajan, who said she is now worried that America “will not let me in”.
“I am not loyal to (U.S. President) Donald Trump,” she said, adding that she was worried that the United States has become a “totalitarian” country.
Since President Trump took office in January, his administration has Carry out a complete immigration raid,spark Protests in parts of the country. He also enacted a travel ban Citizens from 12 countriesthere are reports Visitors are detained at the border.
“If I were still in the same position now (as in 1975), I had to live somewhere, it wasn’t America because it wasn’t democracy at the moment,” she said.
When she talks about American politics, Navelatilova’s frustration is obvious. She thinks people are not noticing what she says is getting worse.
She added that the United States is “absolutely opposed to immigration.”
“I mean, people are being eliminated because of the Department of Homeland Security because they are not fully boarding with Donald Trump’s agenda because they don’t have a kiss ring,” she said.
She said the decision to defect to the United States in 1975 was not easy to make. She describes her “idyllic” childhood growing up in Revnice in modern Czechia, where she has a loving family. “I never know when I will see my parents again—or if I will see them.”
But doing so changed Navratilova’s life. She said at a press conference that she left Czechoslovakia because she wanted to be the world number one in tennis – and that she “can’t do it in this situation at home.”
She does indeed continue to be number one – both in women’s singles lasted 332 weeks, while the women’s doubles record was 237 weeks. Now, she is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players in the world.
Navratilova is a dual American and Czech citizen, and still lives in the United States with her wife Julia Lemigova. Is she worried that she might lose her citizenship in the current political climate?
“Now everything is in the air, that’s the point. Everyone is walking on the eggshell and don’t know what will happen.”
But she has previously spoken about a highly divided subject, and she agrees with President Trump – trans women involved in sports.
She firmly believes that Navratilova’s belief that it is “wrong” to include trans women in women’s tennis.
She said she disagrees with the current World Tennis Association (WTA) rules that if the state trans women provide written and signed declarations that they are female or non-binary women, their testosterone levels have been limited for two years and that they maintain these levels of testosterone levels.
She said she felt trans women had a biological advantage in women’s movement – a belief that was debated.
“There shouldn’t be exclusion, there should be no bullying, but male bodies need to participate in male sports. They can still play in competitions. There are no banned trans people in sports. They just need to participate in the appropriate category, which is the male category. It’s simple.” It’s simple. ”
She added: “By adding male bodies to the women’s championship, there are now people who are not playing – a woman is not playing because now the male has replaced her.”
Last December, the UK’s Lawn Tennis Association Change the ruleswhich means transgender women can no longer participate in domestic tennis matches for some women.
The UK Supreme Court ruled in April that the legal definition of women is based on biology. Asked if she believes tennis should follow the leadership of the British court, she said: “100%”
Navratilova replied: “Very sympathetic – but this still does not give them the right to women’s gender-based space.”
“Oh my god, I’m going to die”
Navratilova has been open to her battle with cancer for the past 15 years.
She was first diagnosed with 52-year-old breast cancer in 2010. Then, 13 years later, a second completely unrelated cancer recovered from her throat.
“The way I found it, I’m like this,” Navaratilova said. “And I thought, ‘Oh, this lymph node is a bit big’. A few weeks later, it’s still bigger.”
After the scan, the doctor also captured a second cancer in her breast.
“We got the result, it was cancer,” she said. “And I thought, ‘Oh my god, I’m going to die’.”
Even though she said treatment was “hell,” she now feels “everything is good.”
“Knocking the wood, everything is clear and there are no side effects at all – except that the red wine is still bad, so I walked sideways towards the tequila and vodka.” “I’m lucky. Healing is hell, but the consequences are great.”
Has cancer completely changed Navratilova?
“Cancer taught me to appreciate it every day, and I’m doing a lot of things anyway,” she said. “But the most important thing is not to sweat small things. This can be solved.”
Amol Rajan Interview: Martina Navratilova participated in BBC 2 on June 18, On BBC iPlayer.
