A few weeks ago, I had an urge to write about one of my favorite athletes – Venus Ebony Starr Williams.

I was on vacation but I woke up early that Saturday morning to watch Venus claim
what I just knew was going to be her sixth Wimbledon title. But it was not meant to be. However, my urge to write about Venus was still there.

But then I got back home and life happened, as it always does. A day turned into days and they turned into weeks and then I looked up and it was September.

The great thing about this though is the fact that Venus, as she always has been, is worthy of having this blog post written about her.

Let us revisit some facts. She has been a professional tennis player since the age of 14. She won her first Grand Slam in 2000 – 17 years ago. She appeared in her first US Open semifinal in 2000 – 17 years ago. In 2011, she was diagnosed with Sjogren’s disease – an autoimmune disease which causes fatigue and muscle and joint pain. In 2017, Venus is now 37 years young and has reached the finals of this year’s Australian Open and Wimbledon. And when the rankings are updated, she will be ranked fifth in the world.

Excuse me but it is a must,#ClapForHer.

It has long become a practice in our society to only celebrate the champion. The one that gets the trophy. The one that gets the celebratory ring. The one that gets the win.

I am one of those persons. Everybody is not a winner. In life, there are wins and losses. Or wins and lessons. I like the latter.

But when it comes to Venus, she will always be a winner. What we are witnessing, at her age, in her sport, with her health challenges, is unprecedented. And I do not think we are appreciating her as much as we should.

This woman should be celebrated to the utmost. She has been a warrior for women. A frontline fighter for equal pay. And a champion in every sense of the word.

My hope is that this weekend, she will win her third US Open title – 16 years after she won her last.

However, even if she does not end up with the “winner’s” trophy in the end, it does not change a thing.

Venus Ebony Starr Williams is and will always be a champion.

#ClapForHer