Venus Williams believes the key to mastering wellness is to treat yourself to a mental challenge. So, how does a four-time Olympic gold medalist spoof up the time to engage in stimulating hobbies? Well, for someone who’s constantly traveling, Venus prefers the chance to rent her own place instead of a hotel for the simple reason being she can be more in control of her day, do her own laundry, and immerse in a cool indulgence of a hobby with the little time she has left. 

Queen V shared an interesting detail about her life’s biggest obsession, and it’s not tennis. The former WTA number one, with Cultured Magazine‘s official IG account, shared the interview clip, where Williams highlighted how she views tennis as an artistic game. She described how individual playstyles complement each other, turning players into artists. She also called herself an artist who sweats, candidly adding that when it came to her obsession, it wasn’t the sport she passionately plays—it was escape rooms.

“Definitely my obsession with escape rooms. Don’t ask me why, but I cannot live without them, and it’s my happy place,” Venus said. Just a couple of months ago when she announced her latest partnership with Downy for its Rinse & Refresh laundry odor remover, Williams was asked about her favorite pass time, and her answer was no different. She said,

“My biggest hobby is escape rooms. When traveling, I’ll start the day at 6 a.m., and my only free time is to do an escape room at 11 p.m. It’s an interesting mental challenge,” In fact, she would go as far as flagging herself as an “escape-room junkie”: “I’m an escape-room junkie and just did a virtual one with my niece.”

While many might feel overwhelmed by the idea of spending leisure time in an escape room, Venus Williams aces it like a queen. The hobby must be having a positive impact on her health and mental strength. Speaking of health, back in 2011, Venus battled an autoimmune disease, and it was her indomitable spirit has helped her focus on her dreams and overcome obstacles.

Venus Williams battled Sjogren’s syndrome that almost ended her career

This American player was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease in 2011, a condition where the body’s immune system attacks its healthy tissues, causing fatigue and severe energy loss. When she was finally diagnosed, she said, “It’s a huge relief because as an athlete, everything is physical for me—everything is about being fit and being in shape.” Williams’ statement highlighted the intense struggle she faced with her health issues, yet she continued to play with full spirit. In her book, Strive, Williams discussed this challenging time and vowed to inspire others to fight back without losing hope. Her resilience and thoughtful approach inspired many, offering them hope in the face of such heartbreaking adversity.

In an interview with the ABC News, Williams said, “I just spend my whole life just pushing myself and if you work hard enough, you’ll get what you want. Guess what? now that’s all out of the window. So I had to learn to overcome fear.” Her words echoed her determination to not let her health issues take over her dreams. Inspiring isn’t it?

Venus Williams has proven that she is strong no matter the circumstances. Despite battling a complicated disease, this WTA star’s mental strength remains unshaken as she embraces escape rooms to challenge her pace further. With every victory, she demonstrates that nothing is impossible when it is driven by true intention.