Tennis icon Navratilova quits Kilimanjaro charity climb

Nairobi: Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has been forced to give up her attempt to ascend Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro on the fourth day of the climb, the charity she was climbing for said Friday.

Sports charity Laureus said in a statement that the 54-year-old was in good spirits but "disappointed to have to leave the mountain" after apparent altitude sickness struck at 4,500 metres.

Navratilova, who was leading a team of 27 climbers, has been taken to the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre to undergo a medical examination.

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Thursday, Navratilova wrote in a blog entry that the climb, carried out amidst unseasonal blizzards and mists, was proving tougher than she thought.

"The weather is a little better, but the going is getting tougher and tougher," the 18-time Grand Slam winner wrote.

"It seems to be constantly steep and as we started to approach the highest point yet, 4,500 metres above sea level, sheer exhaustion sets in for much of the group, and with heavy legs and chests pounding due to a lack of oxygen, every step becomes an effort."

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