Interview with Martina Navratilova on the BBC

[IwantToRetire]

Only posting because its nice to have something positive to watch.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002dsvq/amol-rajan-interviews-martina-navratilova

Oh and Amol Rajan of "We need jungle" fame!

Have no idea what that is about, or who he is.

Just glad the BBC gave her a chance to talk about women's sport being for women.

What a legend. It was lovely to listen to her again - and so pleased to hear that she's now cancer free after her breast and throat cancer diagnoses.

It was interesting that Amol's response to her great answers was to wail that as trans people had such awful terrible hard lives, surely women should be kind and hand over sport to these mediocre men (paraphrasing)
She simply responded "What about the women?"

Amol Rajan is one of the Today presenters, i.e. one of the best interviewers on the BBC. The Today programme has consistently covered women's rights issues well and he clearly knows what a woman is.

Go Martina 🙌

so pleased to hear that she's now cancer free after her breast and throat cancer diagnoses.

I have to admit I had forgotten about her suffering this. But yes brilliant that she now seems well, and that she kept on speaking the truth.

Sorry - off topic. I gave up listening to the Today programme years ago and listen to the world service instead.

Is it worth me tuning in again?

It was a really good interview. I've no idea what his views are (quite rightly) but was amused that this was his response.

He's the newish quizmaster on University Challenge.

Off topic aside follows. He always sticks in my memory for a restaurant review of Alimentum in Cambridge. The restaurant is long gone, although another has replaced it. The reason his review is memorable was the absolute clanger of not realising the restaurant was situated in a part of town where some of the most expensive mansions can also be found. Where Pimms o'clock was practically invented.

Nothing can be done to overcome the problem of location. Far from the city centre, Alimentum is situated on a busy road, next to the main railway bridge, opposite a giant Travelodge, under a set of new flats, and in view of the giant club where I used to go raving. Punts and Pimm's o'clock this ain't.

My favourite bit was "Nail varnish and a pony tail does not a woman make."

I was very disappointed with Amol Rajan. He was all "But what about the poor trans laydees? Will nobody think of them?" So, so sick of hearing this from every BBC interviewer.

Who doesn't love Martina? Great woman and a absolute legend 🤗

“What about women and girls?” The perfect response when pushed to show sympathy towards males who wish to compete in female sports. I have so much respect and admiration for Martina, she really nailed it and spoke the truth. ❤️ One day, an interviewer will ask a transwoman athlete, “do you feel any sympathy for the women and girls you’ve displaced by competing today? Do you feel bad about winning trophies for women, when you could compete against men but the women have no other category to fall back on?”

Martina was so clear and so good, but on her point about the male height and reach advantage, I’d have liked her to stress that it would still be unfair for a man to compete against a tall woman. Men are stronger and faster than women, they don’t have to be taller than us to win.

It's being shown again on BBC2 now

Currently watching this. Martina is a bliddy legend. Amol can chuff right off.

Just watched it on BBC 2. I don't know what Amol Rajan's views are. I don't think it matters because his questions, whether they came from a pro trans position or not, gave Martina the perfect opportunity to explain very clearly why TW competing in women's sport is not fair.

He did not sound like a true believer, more like he was reading a script.

I loved the blunt way she responded

I have loved Martina ever since I saw her take to task an umpire who could not pronounce her name properly in the seventies. She really does not take nonsense from anyone and has a wonderful direct way of speaking so utterly confidently

I haven't seen the interview yet, but I love the deep friendship between her and Chris Evert as they supported each other through each woman's journey through cancer and recovery.

And i think Amol Rajan's interview last year with Billie Jean King is definitely worth a rewatch

Absolute Shero!
She was so damn fabulous back in the day, lesbian icon!
She still shivers me timbers actually, I love a sporty lesbian!!
Oh and of course, she has been so stalwart re men in women’s sport and all the other nonsense!!

He did not sound like a true believer, more like he was reading a script.

Tbh I'm not sure. His delivery has always been quirky and I think he often sounds as though he's reading even when he isn't.

I just watched the interview. She was brilliant!

Thanks for the post OP. I'm a great admirer of Navratilova. Nice to hear what she has to say.

I loved listening to her but found him really irritating

TBF (and apologies for a derail) he was right though - the leisure park is one of the least Cambridge-y parts of Cambridge and that restaurant had a view of traffic lights. The fact that houses around Hills Road are massive (and overpriced in terms of available amenities) didn't make it a good place for a restaurant. Feels much more 'town' than 'gown' there for sure.

Love to hear that Martina Navratilova is keeping things real still - a powerhouse of tennis and women's rights!!

I was disappointed in Amol but Martina is an absolute queen.