Martina Navratilova and her wife, Julia Lemigova, reached a significant milestone in their personal lives when they adopted two young boys on August 14, 2024. The couple, who had been together for many years, felt “over the moon” after taking this step, marking a joyous new chapter in their lives as mothers.
In a recent interview with People, Lemigova shared a glimpse into their lives as new parents, describing their journey as “intense, loving, and incredible.” Despite being sleep-deprived, she expressed immense happiness about the experience. “It’s becoming a reality because it’s only been three months, but it’s been a very intense, loving, incredible, three months,” she said, reflecting on how quickly time had passed.
Lemigova also revealed a humorous aspect of their relationship: Navratilova’s promise to reduce her social media use after their marriage. She recalled that when they got married, Navratilova vowed to cut back on her social media habits, particularly on Twitter (now X). It took several years of marriage and the demands of parenting for Navratilova to keep that promise, as she now finds herself with little time for social media due to the new responsibilities of motherhood.
Lemigova, a successful model and entrepreneur, has had a fascinating journey. Originally from the Soviet Union, she was a Miss USSR titleholder and later became a runner-up at the 1991 Miss Universe pageant. She eventually moved to Western Europe, where she settled in Paris and established Joiya Spa, later launching her own skincare and spa brand, Russie Blanche.
Navratilova and Lemigova’s romantic journey began when they first met at a gay bar in Paris in 2000, before reconnecting in 2008. They grew close and eventually tied the knot in 2014, after Navratilova proposed to Lemigova.
In addition to their family life, Navratilova recently celebrated her 68th birthday on October 18, enjoying a dinner outing with Lemigova and her former tennis rival-turned-friend, Chris Evert. The three shared the occasion on social media, with Navratilova posting a heartfelt message: “Celebrated my birthday last night with two of my favorite women:).”
Navratilova and Evert have a long history, facing off against each other a total of 80 times throughout their careers, with Navratilova leading their head-to-head 43-37. Their friendship is a testament to the mutual respect they’ve developed over the years.
