Pam Shriver: Striking a Balance with Sustained Success

On a recent evening in the boathouse, tennis legend and Olympian Pam Shriver treated our female athletes and coaches to a masterclass in how to be successful in sports and the importance of athletics throughout life. In her understated and generous manner, Pam also shared her insights about the competitive landscape for women on and off the court, along with some tantalizing details from her court-side observations of Roger Federer and Serena Williams.

Pam Shriver caught the attention of the tennis-loving world at age 16 in 1978 when she found herself as an amateur playing in the finals of the US Open against Chris Evert, the number two seed—having landed on center court by defeating the number one seed, Martina Navratilova. Pam remains the youngest player ever to reach the finals of the US Open. She also remains one of the winningest doubles players in the history of the sport, a recognition she secured for herself, in part, by winning 22 Grand Slams with her long-time partner, Navratilova. Along with her two decades of striking success as both a singles and doubles player, Pam has built a remarkable career as a sports commentator, working exclusively for ESPN since the mid 1990s. In this role Pam has been an important advocate for women (and men), inspiring young athletes and helping millions of viewers understand and appreciate the game of tennis and its players more fully. Fresh from her commentating role at the Miami Open, she was excited to engage with Brewster athletes and coaches.

Pam emphasized growth mindset and awareness as two elements most important to success. She suggested that too often people focus on the tangibles—on wins, scores, and statistics. She urged our athletes and coaches to focus on the intangibles—what she defined as building confidence, resilience, and managing stress. Developing these intangibles, Pam suggested, is critical for success in sports and in life; they help a player see challenge and even defeat as an opportunity for growth. “Having a growth mindset means you are able to listen, to learn, and to get better,” she asserted. Sustained success also demands deep levels of awareness. Pam explained, “As an athlete, you have to be aware of your playing environment, of your teammates, of your competitors, and of yourself. Only through awareness can you be empathetic; only through awareness can you figure out when it’s best to stay in your own lane or reach out to a teammate.” Asked what advice she would give her teenage self, knowing what she knows now, Pam said that she would spend more time developing her footwork and her mental strength (a revealing statement from someone recognized for her composure even as a teen). She talked about how important it is to train and prepare the mind; doing so is essential for developing awareness. She shared, “You need to be disciplined about staying in the moment, which in tennis is the next point, not the next game, or next set. You want to be prepared to take the next indicated step.” Her advice resonated powerfully in this community in which we seek to foster growth mindsets and awareness among our students.

Pam also revealed herself to be astute in the area of social and emotional learning, talking about how emotions and pressure are a part of everything in life. She underscored how important joy is when practicing and competing, suggesting “If you get to the end of a training session and there hasn’t been any laughter, there’s a problem.” Discussing the role of emotion, Pam also returned again to the idea of mental strength. “I hope it’s comforting to know that everyone gets nervous,” she shared. “Martina (Navratilova) didn’t have her top confidence every day, BUT she never showed it! It’s about learning how to manage your nerves and your emotions. You don’t ever want to broadcast to your opponent anything they can use against you.” She noted how this wisdom applies in the business world as well.

Pam closed the evening commenting on how grateful she is that her sport is one in which there is parity between men and women. She credits Billie Jean King and those she inspired with fighting that battle in the '70s and paving the way for other sports and for women in general around the world. Similarly, Pam acknowledged how pivotal Arthur Ashe was in effecting social change in the world of tennis and beyond. She announced to the crowd that now is the best time ever to be a female athlete, and her excitement about that reality speaks to her profound commitment to and belief in the power of sports. For Pam, playing sports and moving physically will forever be a part of her life—“For your mind and body, you gotta keep moving.” So it’s no surprise that some of our athletes and coaches saw her working out in the Smith Center before her speaking engagement. Recognized both on and off the court for her insight, humor, honesty, and professionalism, Pam embodies so much of what we value in sports. We are so grateful for her visit and hope she enjoyed her workout on our campus.

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