Arts & Entertainment
Martina Navratilova Receives Spirit of Katharine Hepburn Award
Also known as the Kate, the Center presents the award each year to an individual who embodies the spirit, independence, character of Hepburn
OLD SAYBROOK, CT – The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center presented the 7th annual Spirit of Katharine Hepburn Award to tennis legend Martina Navratilova at its summer gala, SHE’S GOT GAME, on Saturday, August 27, 2022. Also known as the Kate, the Center presents the award each year to an individual who embodies the spirit, independence, and character of the legendary actress.
Over a spectacular career that has spanned four decades, Martina won an unprecedented 59 Grand Slam titles, including a record 9 Wimbledon singles championships, 167 singles and 177 doubles championships. Her decades-long rivalry with Chris Evert is considered one of the greatest in sports history, with Martina sporting a 43-37 advantage. To this day, she is known for taking women’s tennis to an entirely new level with her speed, aggression, and fitness.
Katharine Hepburn was her idol and had been since Martina saw photos of her while still a young girl in the Czech Republic. She admired Miss Hepburn’s strength and courage and was impressed that Kate was a fine tennis player, as well. The two became good friends and in 1983, following her win at Wimbledon, Martina gifted Miss Hepburn her tennis racquet.
During a conversation with sports broadcaster, Mary Carillo, on the Kate stage, Martina recalled how Miss Hepburn’s own career independence inspired her. “It validated what I was feeling,” said Martina. “When you leave a communist country and you survive that, when you can speak out, you do. If I can speak and not be afraid, why wouldn’t I use that voice? Kate validated that – speak your truth and people will catch up. Because she was afraid of her time and people caught up, I was ahead of my time, people caught up.” Martina summed up Miss Hepburn in one word – audacious.
Martina Navratilova is among an iconic group of past recipients, including Dick Cavett, Glenn Close, Ann Nyberg, Christine Baranski, Cher, and Sam Waterston.
SHE’S GOT GAME was presented by Whelen Engineering Company and Electric Boat. Corporate sponsors include Bank of America Private Bank, Dominion Energy, Gengras Motor Cars, Kainen Escalera & McHale PC, Liberty Bank, Possidento Therrien Electrical Contractors LLC, Saybrook Wealth Group, The Shops at Mohegan Sun, MJP Wealth Advisors, Guilford Savings Bank, and MahoneySabol.
