Seles Stabbing Made Room for Security

With the expectation that this year’s U.S. Open would be tennis-legend Serena Williams’ last ride, the amount of spectators and ticket sales skyrocketed. With this, though, there was a massive concern for security. An NYPD threat assessment called the U.S. Open “an opportunistic target for malicious actors that seek to inflict mass casualties.” The NYPD staffed the event with officers on post and bike, as well as aviation, canine, transit, and other units. 


This level of security has come a long, long way. Being a woman in athletics, specifically professional, personal security is an unsettling aspect of life as travel ensues across the globe. As we come off the tail end of the 2022 U.S. Open, it is important to bring light to the story of Monica Seles, a trailblazer in women’s tennis during the ‘90s. 


Monica Seles went pro just before the ‘90s. Her accolades immediately began to accrue: youngest-ever French Open champion at 16, eight Grand Slam titles before age 20, and the number one ranked women’s tennis player in 1991 and 1992. Seles’ successes then came to an abrupt stop in 1993. While playing a match in Hamburg, Germany, an obsessed fan of Seles’ rival stabbed her in the back with a 9-inch boning knife. Seles found inconsistent success and a long battle to recovery–physically, mentally, and emotionally–following her very public attack. 

  Monica Seles after stabbing attack in Hamburg, Germany, in 1993. She did
not return to tennis for over two years. (Photo from Associated Press)


Seles’ stabbing in Germany in ‘93 gained the attention of many, drawing in their eyes and ears. The conversation surrounding security, especially in women’s athletics, began to unravel.


Today, women in athletics feel they have the space to voice their concerns of their safety; although, this does not mean they are taken seriously. The presence of threats has taken on a different form with the rise in technology and social media. The unease and feelings of helplessness in public for women in athletics still exist. Monica Seles’ attack is only one example of the imminent danger that is presented to women in athletics. What would her dominance look like if there had been a concern for safety in Hamburg? Unfortunately, Monica Seles and the rest of us will never find out.




Sources:


A&E Television Networks. (2009, November 16). Tennis star Monica Seles stabbed. History.com. Retrieved September 14, 2022, from https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/tennis-star-monica-seles-stabbed

Monica Seles. International Tennis Hall of Fame. (n.d.). Retrieved September 13, 2022, from https://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/inductees/monica-seles

No credible threats, but security tight at U.S. open, NYPD says. ABC7 New York. (2022, August 29). Retrieved September 14, 2022, from https://abc7ny.com/serena-williams-us-open-security-911-september-11/12177840/

Person. (2015, June 30). Women's tennis still has safety concerns, decades after attack on Monica Seles. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved September 13, 2022, from https://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/womens-tennis-still-has-safety-concerns-decades-after-attack-on-monica-seles-20150701-gi20sx.html


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

LeAnn Shannon: Triumph as a Paralympian

Image
    Many of our favorite athletes have a story that sets them apart from their competitors and teammates. They inspire us to follow in their footsteps, and they are celebrated on the world’s largest stages. Within the large pool of athletes, there are many marginalized groups. The most notable discounted group is, arguably, athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities. These athletes and their talents are often overlooked, but the Paralympic Games serve as an opportunity for the world’s disabled athletes to compete, just as they would in the Olympics. LeAnn Shannon is recognized as one of the many Paralympians that made her mark on the sport of track and field .       Just before her first birthday, LeAnn Shannon was in a car accident, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. But, from the get-go, LeAnn was a natural competitor. She played sports such as swimming and softball growing up, but her favorite was wheelchair racing. LeAnn began ra...
Read more

Hill’s Ascent: Rock Climber Lynn Hill Empowers A New Generation of Women

Image
Women in sports have steadily made the trek up numerous hills and over countless obstacles, all while weathering opinions of doubters and their imposter syndrome. As long as women have been involved in athletics, there has been a glass ceiling to break. There is no doubt that rock climber Lynn Hill has made her way up to the glass ceiling, leaving it shattered and welcoming more to follow her beyond expectations.  Lynn Hill grew up in California and spent most of her youth practicing gymnastics, running competitively, and nearly breaking a weightlifting world record (Biography, 2022). After her first time rock climbing with family, Hill was hooked for life. She showed a natural talent for the sport and became a part of climbing communities in Southern California.  Lynn Hill while climbing. Source: Lynn Hill Archive As Hill climbed her way up the ranks, she made her way around the U.S. in the 1980s. She set records for first female climbs and first climbs and took on more exper...
Read more