Laureus Award Academy, something that we all know from the Sportsman Awards every yea, now has a new member in their committee under the name of Li Na. The currently retired Chinese who won the French Open and the Australian Open will be the 60th member and the fifth coming from tennis joining Boris Becker, Martina Navratilova, Monica Seles and Ilie Năstase. Actually, the Chinese won the Laureus Award for Exceptional Achievement in 2015, one year after she retired.
Li Na on her selection and the importance of sport in her life
As one of the best sportswomen of China the past years and a regular player on tour, sport, as she said herself, has played a huge role in Li's life. That is evident since even after her retirement she is really energetic into tennis and has been an ambassador of many tournaments, especially in her homeland, while she is on her quest to raise her family. Also, we shouldn't forget her fights with the Chinese Federation the past years and how she returned to the sport after losing her best years, the younger ones, due to disputes.
"Sport has given me so much throughout my life. The lessons I learned, the wins and the losses made me into the person I am today. I'm honored to join this incredible team of sporting legends in the Laureus Academy and I'm looking forward to working with my fellow Academy members, supporting the work of Laureus Sport for good and inspiring young people around the world through sport. I am so happy that this is happening in Paris, which is a city which means so much to me," Li said.
Li's inspiration in China and Laureus Chairman's take on the Chinese
There is no doubt that Li is the best Chinese tennis player of all time, if not the best Asian. She became the first Chinese man or woman to win a Grand Slam singles title in the 2011 French Open inspiring a lot of people in Asia to pick up the tennis rackets. Also, no need to mention that she has been in Times Magazine list of most inspirational athletes. Now, after Li has retired people in China are motivated to find the new Li Na with Shilin Xu being a name that could make some noise in the future.
"Li Na is one of China's greatest athletes and I'm delighted to welcome her into the Laureus Academy. Throughout her career she became an icon of the sport of tennis and a role model for youngsters in China and around the world. I know she is looking forward to taking her passion for sport into her role as an Academy Member," said Chairman of Laureus Sean Fitzpatrick
Speaking of China, Li Na is the fifth Chinese athlete to get included in the association and the third consecutive.