Longevity and Sports: New Frontiers of Athleticism

Everybody please welcome Novak Jovovich.

[applause] Thank you for joining us today and congratulations on your award last night. Lovely to see you.

night. Lovely to see you.

[sighs and gasps] >> And speaking with Novak today, please welcome the journalist and broadcaster Carrie Champion.

>> [applause] >> Thank you very much.

>> Thank you. How are you?

>> Thank you.

>> Your excellent excellency. Thank you for having me. I appreciate it. Thank you so

having me. I appreciate it. Thank you so much. Um please let's sit so we can

much. Um please let's sit so we can begin this conversation. Uh I would like to give the room a little bit of background so they know why we ended up doing this conversation. Should I do that? Would you like to share?

that? Would you like to share?

>> Sure. No, I'm happy [laughter] to share.

um when Novak Djokovic or when I first started working in sports, one of my first big interviews and and Novak was making his way in the world was with NovakJokovic and I think that this is a

full circle moment because I have watched the evolution of NovakJokovic and it has been nothing but spectacular.

So congratulations to you and the longevity of your career. Wellness and

longevity I think now will be the hallmark for what people understand you do. So, let's get into it. As we talk

do. So, let's get into it. As we talk about this career of yours, how have you been able to remain at the top of your game for so long?

>> Uh, well, I think it's first of all, first and foremost is dedication. Um,

passion and love for for tennis that has given me and granted me with all the most beautiful things that I have experienced in my life, in my career.

Um, no one in my family or in my country has ever uh really played tennis or I mean in my country we of course we had some tennis stars but not on that level.

And so I I was supposed to be a skier. I

was also playing football when I was younger because my father was a professional skier. We grew up on the

professional skier. We grew up on the mountains. And then tennis came as a

mountains. And then tennis came as a sign of a destiny for me. you know, I uh was five, four or five years of age and they were building three tennis courts in front of the the the restaurant

business that my parents used to own.

So, it it really came by accident even though I don't believe in accidents and you know everything happens for a reason in life. So it was a divine intervention

in life. So it was a divine intervention in a sense for me to really be uh presented to tennis and and I fell in love with it and uh it was an it was it

still is but especially at that time very expensive sport for uh a country that was going through a lot of uh turmoil a lot of difficult a lot of difficulties adversities war torn

country uh so I I I skipped many years of junior tournaments uh traveling around the world because I couldn't you know it was war in my country, so I had to stay and and I couldn't travel

because we didn't have funds and so forth. So, all of these trials and

forth. So, all of these trials and tribulations have really strengthened my will to um to realize my dream. My dream

was to win Wimbledon because that was the first image that I had of a tennis, you know, watching Pete Sampress win his first first Wimbledon in '92 and that's

who I wanted to become. You know, Pete was my was my idol growing up and and I had few other idols obviously in sport in basketball was Jordan and Kobe and

then in skiing was Alberto Tomba, you know, the great Alberto Tomba because I you know I skied a lot and I was competing when I was when I was younger.

So uh I I was doing a lot of different sports but you know and till I was 10 11 we didn't know whether tennis is going to be the sport for me

>> and then you know my my parents sat me down and they said you know you love to ski you love to play football you love to play tennis but you got to decide for one and because we don't have funds and

we don't have time to you know support you in all the three three different sports so I chose tennis and I think it was not a bad decision.

>> Yes.

>> And um and and it was it was of course a struggle for my parents. So I owe them my great gratitude uh for allowing me to live my dream. And you know I always

feel like even still at age 38 when I'm playing I'm not playing for myself. I'm

playing also in a sense because to to to my parents >> particularly and also all the people in my country that follow me because I feel

that we are all playing together you know by by this time already I feel such a strong connection with my people that you know every match that I play it's uh

it's really u followed in my country so I feel that that gives me strength and motivation to keep going >> uh and and speaking of keeping going I I'm old enough to remember when you were

at the US Open and I was watching um and there was a time you all may remember we know him as world class but there was a time in which no one really knew who you

were and I feel like that had to be uh intimidating but you had this intestinal fortitude even when you weren't as well known and I just want to take a quick

look back um at the US Open and listen to the commentators as they reference NovakJokovic a couple. Let's talk about the guy that

a couple. Let's talk about the guy that he's taken on today, Novak Jookovic. And

what do we know about him and what can you expect from him?

>> This kid is the youngest kid in the draw. He just turned 18 last week. He's

draw. He just turned 18 last week. He's

tall and he's skinny and he's very, very hungry. In fact, when you look at him,

hungry. In fact, when you look at him, it looks like he's hungry, literally and figuratively.

Do I like him against Coran? No. But

we'll see what the kids got.

And you will know a lot more about >> She was right. I'm still hungry.

>> You're still hungry. Exactly. in every

possible way. I think that's a beautiful way to remember how when no one know knew who you were but you always had this fire inside of you and that is what um I believe you have been able to

really translate on the court. You have

this grit and this grind the style in which you play and it is mind body and soul. Can you talk to me about your

soul. Can you talk to me about your mental strength and why you have been able to set yourself apart?

>> I think hunger is a is a good description of it. You know, I think when obviously my background, my childhood days that I was just referencing a little bit and the way I

was brought up, uh, has contributed a lot to my mental fortitude, to my the development of my character, of who I am, the my values. I think it's important that you know where you come

from, you respect that, you respect your your family, uh, your culture, and then you bring out your best self to the world. And and I think growing up in a

world. And and I think growing up in a in adversity, you want success even more because you have something to prove not just to

yourself, to your close people in your life, to your family, but to everybody else who is watching you. I mean, tennis is a wonderful sport. It's a global sport. We travel around the world,

sport. We travel around the world, experience incredible things. Um, but it was a never traditional sport for my country nor for the region to be honest.

So it was a it was a big um chance that was taken by particularly my parents but you know as I said without without their support I wouldn't be here and I think

in the face of adversity we grow the most.

>> Um do I wish that everybody goes through war in order for them to become mentally strong? No, of course not. But uh I

strong? No, of course not. But uh I think that is important to uh create a circumstances and environment for a

young athlete or a young person that you know he or she needs to understand that he or she needs to create its own path and

needs to be challenged mentally and physically in order to get the most out of themselves what they can offer to the world.

because if they are presented everything on a daily basis they you know they get spoiled and you you know you get too comfortable. So it's important to get

comfortable. So it's important to get out of the comfort zone because you know we we all talk I I I heard so many numerous interviews by the world top

class athletes not just athletes they all speak that out of the failures and losses they learn the most and it is true because that's that's when you are really getting some honest

self-reflection and then you discover the sides of you that maybe you you not only that you didn't know existed but you never want to encounter. So in the losses, you know, you I mean for me when

I when I lose a match, even still today, I don't want to see anybody for, you know, for a few hours or whatever, I just want to be by myself because I need time to reflect on what just happened.

And but the next day you wake up, it's a new day. It's a new opportunity. It's a

new day. It's a new opportunity. It's a

new chance for you to be better version of yourself and to really accomplish yourself and to to basically correct the wrongs that you did yesterday. So I feel

like this is where the strength comes from is is the mindset really. It's the

constant dedication and devotion to be better every single day in every aspect.

I'm I come from individual sport. So um

and from really uh uh challenging circumstances in my childhood. So I had to uh mature much earlier than I did. So

I was 12 13 years of age. You know, I always tell this story, but it's quite a powerful story. My father put 10 Deutsch

powerful story. My father put 10 Deutsch marks at the time, which is equivalent to $10. And he to me, you know, and my

to $10. And he to me, you know, and my my mother, my two brothers, they were too young, but you know, and he said, "This is all we got. So, if you want to

play tennis, you know, which is an expensive sport, it's not enough. It's

that plus all the other jobs that you have to do in a way to substitute me when I'm not around, when I'm working and trying to provide for the family. So

I had to almost take a second role of of the father at home to my two younger brothers. And these responsibilities

brothers. And these responsibilities have strengthened me a lot and and had me had me really realize the world that we are living in. And I was it too

early? Yes, probably. But it was life at

early? Yes, probably. But it was life at that point. They had no choice. And so

that point. They had no choice. And so

but it made me very appreciative of everything else that I have in life today. So anything that happens within

today. So anything that happens within my career or or business or anything like that, I I I always try to reflect on those moments because it g it grounds

me. It gives me humility and and and and

me. It gives me humility and and and and modesty, but also peace because I I know who I am. I know where I come from and I bring that value inside of anything that I do and I think on the long run that's

the biggest win.

>> Um I think I have been told right great story [applause] please clap. Uh I have been told

please clap. Uh I have been told covering sports for most of my life that the greats have amnesia. Uh when you are playing and you don't win, you sometimes

have to forget immediately in order to continue to be so great. And there was uh one loss in particular of yours that

to me really um reminded us that you are this kid from Belgrade who was put in a position to lead in a way at a very

young age and you have so much soul while you play this sport. You give it your all. Uh do you mind if we play this

your all. Uh do you mind if we play this one particular loss >> at Wimbledon?

Just a word for Goran and your family and your team up there. Look pretty

stressful up there today.

>> Yeah, I it's nice to see my son still there, still smiling, you know. Uh um

[cheering] um [cheering and applause] [applause] sorry [applause] I love Thank you. Thank you for

supporting me and uh I give you a big hug and we can all love each other.

Thank you.

>> No, ladies and gentlemen, >> you're trying to get me emotional.

[laughter] >> Yes, they asked for that. When you see that, what do you think? you know in this particular moment I've you know I lost Wimbledon after grueling five set

battle and was it it was last year and um you know I got very emotional because one of my greatest motivations when I

became a father to continue playing tennis at this level is to see my kids understands on the stands and to for them to be old enough to realize what's

happening. all I feel at that moment but

happening. all I feel at that moment but that was just a very strong emotion obviously after match you go through very strong emotions whether you win or lose it was a moment where I I felt like

I betrayed them >> by losing you know so of course it's when when when you calm down it's not like that but in that moment that's how it felt

>> but you know as I said that's in the losses you you really face your biggest fears >> and all of these things that you suppress they serve surface you know whether it's in tennis sports or

anything else in life you know we try to suppress things constantly you know which is obviously not good we all know that but I feel like everything comes in

its own time sometimes life arranges things to happen to you so that you can learn a lesson and sometimes you do it on your own it just depends but you know

life is a beautiful journey and I think we all have our unique stories to tell and we don't need to copy anybody else.

>> And uh I I I I'm talking like this because I went through my own experiences where I try to be someone else when I was kind of breaking through the tour. I try to be likable guy. I try

the tour. I try to be likable guy. I try

to, you know, I was doing impersonations, which is I I think they're fun. I mean, I was always doing

they're fun. I mean, I was always doing them, but anyway, like people were really kind of not accepting me as a third guy. Feather and Adal

third guy. Feather and Adal >> era was so strong and their rivalry and there was no room for the third guy you know but uh I I made some room I created some room and it was it's amazing you

know the big three and the the golden era that we created and you know I I I feel like when they retired also part of me left so I had to kind of reinvent

myself find new inspirations and the reason why I still keep on going is is also to see how far I can push my own borders my own bar you know setting my own path and see really with the likes

of, you know, Cristiano Ronaldo and, you know, LeBron James, they're still active and, you know, Hamilton and some incredible athletes in the sport that have they're still competing at the

highest level at that age. you know,

even some retired athletes like, you know, Tom Brady or or even some of the the the greatest football names that that that we know like Maldini Totty del Pierro that I had a wonderful chat with

before getting out on the stage and they all said that they retired when they were 40 41.

>> So that was like okay, you know, I still have some time, you know, and and it feels it feels like sport has changed so much. It has evolved. So the care for

much. It has evolved. So the care for the body you like a lot of things go into it like sports technology, sports medicine, you know, everything has

evolved, but essentially it's it's really what what kind of motivation do you have? What's the purpose when you

you have? What's the purpose when you get up in the morning? You know, I I've I've been blessed. God has given me incredible things in life and I've achieved really anything everything that

one tennis player can achieve. And so

what is the motivation? And and there's not only one I mean I achievements are there of course results history writing more history fully inspires me but it's

it's also family it's also legacy it's also inspiring new generations what kind of message you know I want to leave behind me when they see me you know how

how I want to be presenting myself so I try to always remind myself of that and those are some of the things that why I still keep on going and you know longevity is is very trendy now, you

know wellness longevity anti-aging you know, the [laughter] whole thing.

>> And I think uh uh you know, hopefully when people see me uh play and perform, they they can get a little bit more a little bit more inspired not just to play sports, but in in their respective

fields to take care of their body because I think it's important for us to perform well. Everybody wants to perform

perform well. Everybody wants to perform well, right? We are here performing,

well, right? We are here performing, talking to each other in front of the wonderful audience. So, we all want to

wonderful audience. So, we all want to feel good. Nobody wants to have a a

feel good. Nobody wants to have a a broken body or a broken mind, right? So,

it's it's not really longevity is not necessarily linked only to sports or wellness, to sports. It's it's linked to everything. What you do, how you manage

everything. What you do, how you manage your time, your energy. So, um you know, I've been really lucky to to have this awareness and conscious about taking

care of myself very early in my career.

you know my tennis mother that passed away. I like to call her my tennis

away. I like to call her my tennis mother. She gave me all the fundamentals

mother. She gave me all the fundamentals not just about tennis when I was you know eight nine years of age. She would

take me home to her house. We would

listen to classical music. We would look at the videos then she would of the all the great men and women tennis players.

we would switch off and then she would tell me okay now you have to visualize exactly every shot that you just saw and visualize yourself how you play that shot

>> and that's when I came across of you know uh uh uh to visualization I didn't know at the time what we were doing she was not giving me names or terminology for it but she taught me all the

fundamentals and she said when you go back home I want you in bed by that time I want you to drink this you don't drink that you eat that you take care how you

treat your parents, what you the grades in the school. So, it was a very holistic multiddisciplinary approach that was honestly, you know, the the best gift that I could receive as a as a

young athlete and as an individual athlete even more so because there is nobody I can rely on in in other team sports. you can, you know, go rest on

sports. you can, you know, go rest on the bench substitution, you know, maybe in basketball 5 minutes or or football, you know, maybe the guys can cover you up but >> you know, in tennis and in individual

sports, you got to show up every single day. And if it's not your day, you're

day. And if it's not your day, you're gone. You lost. So, there is an amount

gone. You lost. So, there is an amount of pressure and stress that goes into that. But, as Billy Jean King, you you

that. But, as Billy Jean King, you you know said many years ago, pressure is a privilege. It really is. It means that

privilege. It really is. It means that you're doing something that is valuable, that is worth to you and to the world.

So, you know, I always wanted to be on the world stage and and here I am and I'm still very grateful to to have this opportunity.

>> You say you there are a couple things that you mentioned that I just want to recap. You were backstage talking to

recap. You were backstage talking to another legend who retired I believe at 40 41. Uh you are 38, you'll be 39.

40 41. Uh you are 38, you'll be 39.

>> Yes. Uh, and the tennis season is very long, January through November, all primarily a year. And you've earned the right to pick and choose what tournaments you want to play. You have

won the most Grand Slam champion singles championships as a man. 24. Correct.

>> Correct.

>> I mean, that's I mean, this is the all time. So, can we give that up for him,

time. So, can we give that up for him, please? It's amazing.

please? It's amazing.

>> Thank you.

>> Not too bad.

>> Not too bad. You're so humble about it.

He goes, "They made room for me in between, you know, Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal. They made you made some

Rafa Nadal. They made you made some room. You made some room for yourself.

room. You made some room for yourself.

>> But if you look ahead and I know this is a question many people ask you because it's coming. I know you can feel it and

it's coming. I know you can feel it and you've probably already thought about it. But today's athlete, especially when

it. But today's athlete, especially when they play at an extremely high level, they are they've become entrepreneurs, businessmen and women making a way to

lead themselves for that next career. I

know that you I know you feel it knocking. Father, what does it say?

knocking. Father, what does it say?

Father time is undefeated, I believe.

So, so how long do you plan to play?

Have you thought about that? And where

do we go from there? as I as I reflected a few minutes ago, it's really uh multiple motivations and objectives that I have and and all of these motivations

to, you know, that still inspire me to keep playing tennis is contributing to the the the development uh or building of my legacy, you know,

and I I you know, I'm very grateful of course for all the achievements and they are the biggest legacy, but I also very much care about uh you know how the

younger generations perceive me and as a young father of 11 and 8 year old kids I you know obviously I'm their father and that's how primarily they see me but I

can see how they observe other athletes and what really leaves a mark on them you know it's it's not just the performance but it's also the character

the charisma >> you know uh how you um >> carry yourself how you behave uh and what you know what kind of values do you bring forward

>> and you mentioned entrepreneurships and what what kind of business initiatives are you taking you know is it is it aligned with your core values with your

ethos you know all basically all of the initiatives that I have whether it's you know the startups that I have or you know uh uh other business ventures or investments they're aligned with my

passion and my values it has to be you know and and I'm I'm always in the sectors of wellness and health and longevity and sports and health, the things that I care about, things that I

I try to embody on a daily basis because I feel like I cannot represent a company or or or put something on my sleeve if I don't believe in that. You know, I I've

always carried that and and I feel like this is the right way to go being honest and transparent and this is what people recognize. So, I do want to keep on

recognize. So, I do want to keep on going. Uh, I said LA Olympics 28

going. Uh, I said LA Olympics 28 >> is is is a kind of a guiding star, but honestly, it's I there's no limit. So,

let's see. You know what I mean? Like, I

just keep going. I I love hitting the tennis ball and I love competing. And I

was saying to the guys that I was talking to, the the great in football, uh, that it's really about passion and love. And as long as you really feel

love. And as long as you really feel like you're playing on a high level and your body holds on, why not? You know,

people love love to talk and speculate about retirement, you know, because okay, you know, people love to talk, but in the end of the day, I feel like with my active career, I'm still contributing

to the growth of tennis. That is a beautiful sport and I feel like there's there's some big changes coming up in tennis as well that I want to be part of. So yeah, I I I'm still I'm still

of. So yeah, I I I'm still I'm still good. You know, I'm number four in the

good. You know, I'm number four in the world. That's also not bad. That's not

world. That's also not bad. That's not

bad, >> you know. Yeah, it's not bad.

>> You know, the younger guys are there. Of

course, they're great. You know, Sinner and Alcaras, they're the the the the new, you know, big rivalry that they came up and uh I just I love seeing different generations come and go. You

know, I'm still there. So, you know, I love to observe.

>> So, I'm hearing the breaking news. He's

never retiring. go and tell everyone he's [laughter] you're here forever. Uh and they would love it. Ladies and gentlemen, what an

love it. Ladies and gentlemen, what an education and an honor to be here with NovakJokovic. Thank you so much for

NovakJokovic. Thank you so much for you've been able to give us. I

appreciate you.