Coco Gauff may be a Grand Slam champion, but her mother, Candi Gauff, has a great athletic and personal story to tell.
A former college athlete, educator, and full-time supporter of her daughter’s tennis career, Candi has played a crucial role in Coco’s journey from promising youngster to one of the biggest stars in tennis.
Candi Gauff’s NCAA Career and Athletic Background
Before becoming a mom, Candi was a talented athlete. She was a gymnast before turning to track and field, and eventually made the team at Florida State University. She also won five times in the heptathlon at the Florida state high school level.
(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
She was an athlete who competed in all seven events of the heptathlon and her high level college athletic experience influenced her approach to Coco’s development. Candi was a gymnast who went on to excel in track and field at Florida State, according to the WTA.
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Why Did Candi Gauff Leave Her 19-Year Teaching Career?
Eventually, Candi became an educator, but when Coco’s tennis career took off, she made a big sacrifice. The Gauff family relocated from Atlanta to Delray Beach, Florida to give Coco more training opportunities, and Candi gave up her teaching career and started homeschooling her daughter. Reports have said she gave up 19 years of teaching to support Coco full-time.
That was one of the pivotal sacrifices that led to Coco’s success. Candi, along with her husband Corey, helped to establish the atmosphere that enabled Coco to focus on tennis at an early age.
Candi Gauff’s Viral US Open Ticket Post
Candi has recently been seen to be quite vocal about it, as she posted a stern message to family and friends to please not ask her for free US Open tickets. Coco’s guest tickets were sold out, and she urged people to book their own, she explained.
The post soon went viral, with fans applauding Candi’s straightforwardness and making it a meme and social media joke. After years of people asking for her mother’s attention, Coco defended her mother, saying the message was “needed.”
The viral moment was another example of the protective role that Candi has played throughout Coco’s career. She is one of the people who is helping to protect her daughter from the pressures of being a global sports star behind the Grand Slam trophies and packed stadiums.
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