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A Champion’s Heart
Sunday, 12 December 2010 23:13

gimelstobMany benefit from Justin Gimelstob’s solitary focus.

by Beth Rifkin

“You’re really alone out there. One of the reasons that running on paper seemed unappealing was the fear of spending time alone. My existence is very multi tasking, but when running I’m completely immersed in my own thoughts. You’re forced to evaluate yourself and bring stuff inward, and that’s tough to do.”

Former professional tennis player Justin Gimelstob had grown accustomed to performing his job alone. As soon as your name is announced and you walk onto the tennis court you’re completely on your own – the guidance, communication and support cease to exist as your team of coaches, trainers, family members, agents and sponsors watch from the stands, as helpless as fans – while you are face to face with your opponent in an incredibly intriguing, yet somewhat hermetically sealed-like zone, despite being surrounded by thousands of people.

But the loneliness of running the New York City Marathon is different. “It’s a daunting challenge, both physically and mentally,” Gimelstob explains, “I felt much more alone out there running than I ever did on the tennis court. Tennis has so many variables but running is all about you. It’s an insular type of deal; just repetition and one focus. You learn a lot about yourself in the process.”

Gimelstob, who retired from the Tour in 2007 after experiencing multiple injuries throughout his career, had used his 6’5”, over-200-pound frame to dart and sprint around the tennis court and intimidate opponents during his pro playing days to earn a career-high singles ranking of 63 and a doubles ranking of 17. But running the NYC Marathon dispelled the common misconception that professional athletes have an almost super-hero-like control over the numerous variables that come into play on game day – any game day.

Despite a well-executed marathon training program, which he says was more difficult than the actual race, Gimelstob began cramping at mile 15; his determination proving that the only absolute any professional athletes contains is their ability to try. “In tennis you learn to do the best that you can with what you have on that day, that was the goal; finding complete success and peace with doing the best I could,” says Gimelstob.

Four hours, nine minutes and 58 seconds. Had Andy Roddick not put up a $10,000 charity challenge, Gimelstob may not have known that was possible. Running in homage to his friend Jeff Warnick, who passed away from a heart attack during the 2009 US Open while running, Gimelstob had considered running a marathon to honor him, but it was the bet with Roddick, that solidified the challenge. He says, “It became public at that point. I couldn’t back away from it during tough times.”

At mile 23, dazed and still cramping, Gimelstob saw Jeff Wernick’s sister, Randye Wernick-McBride, and Jay Heller, Jeff’s best friend, on the sidelines. Providing just the inspiration that he needed, Gimelstob finished the last three miles in just 24 minutes before collapsing. Shortly after he woke up in the medical tent, though with two intravenous tubes in his veins, still a champion.

More amazing is that despite participating in sports that require a singular focus, Gimelstob always seems to have someone else on his mind. Funds raised from his NYC marathon running team, which included former pro tennis player Jonathan Stark and his wife Dana, and Laura Skladzinski, a world-record holder as the youngest woman to complete marathons in all 50 states, combined with Roddick’s $10.000, a contribution from Andre Agassi and a sports memorabilia auction, raised over $42,000 for the Justin Gimelstob Children’s Fund.

And charity doesn’t end at the finish line; the first week of the pro tennis off-season Gimelstob, who is now an on-air commentator for Tennis Channel and an ATP board member, was consumed by a charity tour, of sorts, where one after the other he attended fundraising events to help pro players James Blake, Andy Roddick and Eric Butorac raise money and awareness for their individual philanthropic causes.

In the middle of the tour was his own charity event, which took place December 1 and 2 in his native New Jersey at the Courtside Racquet Club and the Center Court Tennis Club, respectively, the latter of which was where he began playing tennis at the age of eight. Lindsay Davenport, Mary Joe Fernandez, the current world #1 doubles team Mike and Bob Bryan and Pete Sampras (filling in for Andy Roddick) participated in a tennis exhibition, which again benefited the Justin Gimelstob Children’s Fund.

The Fund helps to raise money and awareness for the Valerie Fund a pediatric cancer fund at Saint Barnabas Hospital in New Jersey, and other children’s charities and related causes in Northern New Jersey and the New York Metropolitan region. Over $1 million has been raised since the effort was started by Gimelstob 12 years ago.

Certainly worth a little alone time.
 

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