Sarah Day @geowriter
WOW. John Inverdale on 5 live: 'd'you think Bartoli's dad told her when she was little 'you're never going to be a looker?'
Marion Bartoli. Maid Marion. Out of shape. Unpopular with tennis journalists who take their cue from the Tours and former superstars of the game who have gone into the coaching business. Marion Bartoli who was unpopular with her own tennis federation because she wanted to be coached by her father and not by one of the hacks - yes I'll call them hacks - who had never won a major in their career - Marion Bartoli is the 2013 Wimbledon Champion.
For all the women and girls who were called ugly, fat, awkward. For all the girls who suffered at the hands of twits like John Inverdale quoted above Marion Bartoli is the women's champion. A Frenchwoman in the land of strawberries and cream. A woman who no one ever considered as possible champion except for those in her circle, those who knew Walter Bartoli understood enough to step aside, that he could not take her where she wanted to go. Especially for Amélie Mauresmo who took the time to know her and to fight her battles for her, who gave her the confidence to stand on Centre Court at Wimbledon and dismantle the fan and media favorite, for all of us who have been declared "other" Marion won this for us.
Congratulations Mlle Bartoli. Congratulations.
7 comments:
The BBC has issued an apology for John Inverdale's comments about Marion Bartoli, 2013 Wimbledon Champion.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23214821
This was a beautiful post. Thank you for writing it. I tweeted after the semis that the tennis establishment would be praying for Sabine Lisicki to win. That Marion didn't allow all the obvious negativity to get to her is a testament to her strength and character.
Not to mention Marion having to buy her Nike attire a few years ago from the clothing racks in department stores due to Nike not sponsoring her...
Kudos Marion - and congratulations for winning the slam I always knew in my heart you were capable of winning. Onward and upward - there are more where these came from.
Savannah, no disrespect, but haven't you yourself mentioned Bartoli's excess weight and suspect fitness level numerous times in the past? You've never held back from critizing players like Kleybanova, Kvitova, even Townsend about their weight, so why the sudden outrage at others calling out Bartoli?
Fred you are right. I have criticized Bartoli, Townsend, Kvitova and Kleybanova about needing to be in better shape if they want to compete at the highest levels of the game. Kvitova wasn't in the shape she is now when she won Wimbledon two years ago.
And even in my post I'm not saying Marion's fitness level should be ignored. What I am upset about are the wholesale attacks on her because she's not blonde, tall and thin, things she'll never be.
I'm hoping that this win will encourage Marion to get more fit. Her father trained her to be able to compete at a less than ideal weight but now that she's looking at the chance to be more and compete at the highest levels maybe she'll be inspired to get fit.
In the end Marion won because Sabine was stunned at Marion's aggression and totally not expecting it. Lisicki mentally collapsed and only began to recover towards the end of the match.
Believe me I'm going to have a lot to say about Townsend's physical collapse in the Girls Final but that will be in a couple of days when MurrayMania calms down a bit.
But back to your point. I have been critical in the past and will be going forward especially if Marion decides a changeover is the right time to eat a Twix. :)
Interesting read from The Age (Australia) - more disgusting comments. Poor Marion :( http://www.theage.com.au/comment/the-ugly-truth-is-rules-are-different-for-girls-in-sport-20130713-2pwhc.html
Hi Matt! Sorry it took so long to post your comment and respond.
Disgusting is putting it mildly.
You're not worthy of a championship unless some perv cameraman is taking shots of your ass or down your top. Yet the WTA, run by a woman, promotes the ones deemed worthy and not the sport. That is why no one comes to WTA matches. If you don't promote the sport why should they?
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