How Did Helen Wills Influence The Great Gatsby

Gatsby Gala
Helen Wills Moody was a famous tennis player known for winning a multitude of championships during the Roaring Twenties. She not only excelled on the courts but also in the classroom as well. Ms.Wills is famous for placing first in the 1924 Olympics playing singles tennis. On top of that independent victorious win, she added yet another gold medal by taking the doubles with her coach, Hazel Wightman. Some would say her accomplishment of winning two gold medals at the Olympics is the reason she was invited to Gatsby’s party, while others would say her consistency and persistence while achieving victories got her the invitation to attend Gatsby’s infamous party. Helen Wills had a signature look on the court, which consisted of a

She made a huge impact on women who played tennis, both during and after her era. She was a slight 5-foot-7.5-inch, 125 pounds, power hitter. (International Tennis Hall of Fame) She found herself constantly bored and unexcited, so she would often practice with men on the West Coast, which was unheard of at the time. However, Wills hit the ball deep and hard which was hard for even the professional men to return. Her backhand and forehand were indistinguishable and there were no weaknesses to exploit. She was a relentless court general, with a lethal game, employing a wicked slice serve to draw her opponents out wide and would follow with a finishing volley or a diabolical overhead smash. She had great court coverage and instincts, combining athletic ability with match toughness to demoralize her opponents. Helen Wills would not just beat, but crush her opponents; both physically and spiritually. She was an icon, an “It girl”, both on and off the court. This led to her being adorned with respect, not just medals. She paved the way for women to embrace their athletic abilities and to also remain smart in academics as well. Wills pursued her passion for tennis all the way up to the age of 82 when she finally decided to retire. Upon her death at 92, Wills bestowed her $10 million fortune to her alma mater, the University of California- Berkeley, where she is now remembered by the Helen Wills Neuroscience

Helen Wills was someone who competed for passion instead of fame and popularity but received it anyways. Her accomplishments are etched forever in the halls of tennis fame. Someone like Helen Wills would not hang out around a crowd full of egotistical, pompous, and vain people. Well, unlike other people who attended Gatsby’s parties, Helen Wills was actually invited. Wills has the opportunity to benefit greatly by attending this party. This party is full of famous and rich people. The odds of Wills meeting other athletes are very high. She may even meet a future opponent, where she could familiarize herself with the opponent's behavior and gain an advantage when competing. her to get in her opponent's head during the game, making it an easier win. After all, according to Sell and Sell website, tennis is 80% mental and 20%