Gabriela Sabatini, An Olympic Inspiration 35 Years After Her Medal

At 53 years old, Gabriela Sabatini continues to be a beacon of inspiration for Argentine sports. Thus, it came as no surprise when she was chosen as one of the “model athletes” for the Youth Olympic Games that kicked off in Buenos Aires.

Among Sabatini’s remarkable tennis achievements, her silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics stands out as a milestone that recently marked its 30th anniversary.

“That silver medal is among the greatest awards I have,” reminisced the Argentine about the match she lost to Germany’s Steffi Graf, with a score of 6–3 and 6–3.

She expressed these sentiments during an event where she was introduced as one of the “model athletes” for the Youth Games.

Sabatini was just 18 years old when she lost the final in Seoul and secured the silver medal, the same age as many of the young athletes competing in Buenos Aires now.

“After the match, I wasn’t very happy because I wanted the gold, but later on, I felt joy for having been part of that unique experience. I have never felt energy like that again,” she commented.

Sabatini, who bid farewell to tennis in 1996, smiled as she recalled the “wonderful” two weeks spent in the Olympic village with athletes from various disciplines and countries. However, what stood out the most was the moment she entered the opening ceremony as the Argentine flag bearer. “It was one of the best moments of my life. Carrying my country’s flag is not an everyday occurrence,” she expressed.

Like all “model athletes,” Sabatini carries the responsibility of imparting her experience to young tennis players, not only to participate in the Games but also to prepare for their transition into professional tennis.

“Juniors have a special energy, and it’s always enriching to watch them play. They may experience ups and downs in their game, which is why having a coach who says the right words is essential. You learn much more from defeats and those moments of struggle than from victories,” Sabatini explained. She currently resides in Switzerland.

“Gabi,” as she is affectionately called by Argentines, mentioned that she hasn’t touched a racket in over three years. The last time was on March 11, 2015, during an exhibition match with Serbian-American Monica Seles at New York’s Madison Square Garden, which Sabatini won 8–5, commemorating the 25th anniversary of their 1990 Masters final, won by Seles in five sets.

“I liked the proposal (to return to tennis, though not professionally) that time. I stay prepared and trained just in case (another offer comes), but I don’t think so,” she responded when asked if she intended to step back onto a tennis court.

However, Sabatini revealed that she received a call from the President of the Argentine Tennis Association (AAT), Agustín Calleri, who assumed office in April, proposing her involvement in the development of women’s tennis.

“We have a pending conversation with Agustín. I hope we can finalize it soon,” she mentioned, without confirming whether she would accept the offer to return, in some capacity, to Argentine tennis.