Sports

Venus Williams is back after debilitating autoimmune disorder

Marley Young
April 6, 2012

Image courtesy of Xynn Tii

Venus Williams marked her return to competitive action for the first time in over six months with straight-sets win over Kimiko Date-Krumm in the first round of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.

Williams had been sidelined since the 2011 U.S. Open due to Sjogren’s syndrome, a disorder of the immune system which attacks the exocrine glands that produce tears and saliva.

Williams required just one hour and 17 minutes to record a 6-0, 6-3 victory over her 41-year-old Japanese opponent.

“It was great to be back out there,” Williams told The Daily Mail. “It was definitely nerve-wracking, especially playing an opponent that I know how talented she is and first match back. But I was able to get a great start and settle in and play well.”

Williams is scheduled to play as normally as she did six months ago, but she now has different cautions than before.

“I’m not at my worst anymore. So that helps as well,” Williams said. “Someone with an autoimmune disease definitely faces different challenges than other people, but it doesn’t mean you can’t be successful.”

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About the Contributor

Marley Young, Athletics Co-Editor

Swimming in underground caves in West Virginia is scary enough, but when mixed with cold water and fish with no eyes, it becomes downright frightful. This, among other things, makes Marley Young, senior, different than your average high school student.

“We had to swim out of the underground caves in freezing 50 degree cold water.” said Young, her traveling experience makes her a pro at adapting to new situations like frigid cold cave swimming. Young’s best vacation consisted of a trip to Alaska, where she whale watched and kayaked. But that’s not the only place Young wishes to visit.

“I want to live in Italy because of the good food, great culture and people.” Having lived in Ohio, West Virginia and Oregon, Young has traveling experience, and her passion for orangutan rehabilitation may take her all over the world. While in these exotic places she might incorporate her special talents of, clarinet, drums, violin and piano. When Young has free time she can relax with her hobbies of hiking, rock climbing, golf and eating Thai food.

All of these travels, talents and hobbies add on to the list that makes Marley Young a extreme adventure junkie, pro traveler and not your average high school student.