The Serious Medical Condition That Venus Williams Lives With

Tennis star Venus Williams has overcome a taxing health condition to continue her career as a pro athlete. Venus began playing professional tennis at the age of 14 in 1994, per Biography, and has emerged as a Grand Slam champion and Olympic gold medalist in the years since. This includes occasions in which she's emerged victorious while teaming up for doubles competitions with her sister Serena Williams.

In 1991, Venus discussed how her passion for tennis developed in a "Today" interview. [0:17] "I think when I was 5 years old – yeah, that's when I think I started liking it a lot," Venus said. "I really started getting serious when I was 7. I think first it was my dad and my mom and my family, going out there to help me and push me." Off the court, Venus has scored major endorsement deals due to her position as a top tennis player. When she was 15, Venus signed a $12 million deal to partner with Reebok, Sportskeeda wrote. She later did a five-year deal with the brand for $40 million in 2000. As she moved forward in her successful career, Venus later experienced symptoms that resulted in her receiving a life-changing health diagnosis.

Back in 2011, tennis pro Venus Williams was diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome. Williams removed herself from competing in the U.S Open after receiving this news, per ESPN. "I enjoyed playing my first match here and wish I could continue but right now I am unable to," Williams said in a statement. "I am thankful I finally have a diagnosis and am now focused on getting better and returning to the court soon." As the Sjögren's Foundation site says, Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease that can cause issues such as wide-ranging dryness, intense fatigue, chronic pain, and lymphomas. In honor of Sjögren's Awareness Month, Williams spoke to the foundation in April 2022 about her diagnosis, which came after she had been sick and misdiagnosed.

"Sjögren's is a complex and often invisible disease," Williams said. "As a patient, I was misdiagnosed many times and my symptoms got progressively worse to the point where I couldn't play professional tennis anymore." Williams previously told "CBS This Morning" in 2012 that signs of autoimmune disease "can manifest in so many different ways," and this "affects the whole body." She added, "I've made huge improvements since I was first diagnosed." A big lifestyle change that Williams has maintained over the years has been vital in managing the symptoms of Sjögren's. 

Since learning she has the autoimmune disease Sjögren's syndrome, Venus Williams has made a beneficial alteration to her lifestyle. Williams spoke to Health in 2022 about adopting a raw vegan diet after being diagnosed with the disease. Whereas she "literally couldn't play tennis anymore" when she was diagnosed, this change in what she was eating helped Williams return to the tennis court. 

"It changed the pace I live at. It changed everything," Williams said of the raw vegan diet, which consists of eating only plant-based foods. "There are definitely challenges, but it's about how you face them and how you come out on top so you can live in a way that is acceptable to you. So, it has been wonderful to do still what I love. And even though I still have issues, it doesn't mean they're going to stop me." In addition, Williams has begun her own plant-based nutrition company, Happy Viking Superfood. Furthermore, in December 2022, Williams shared in a video released on her YouTube channel that she intends to continue playing tennis. "A lot of people have been asking me, 'Are you gonna play again?'" Williams said. "I love tennis, and I would like to play again, and I'll let you know exactly when."