Steffi Graf: Which living person do you most admire, and why?

Which living person do you most admire, and why?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

The Guardian's Q&A repeatedly uses this prompt, sometimes dropping 'living' while retaining the same comparative judgment.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Recorded Steffi Graf said elsewhere, not written here

The man I know the best: Andre.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 June 2013 source ↗

Others on this question

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Ivan Lendl Czech and American tennis player

People who have done really well in their sports: in tennis, Steffi Graf; in ice hockey, Wayne Gretzky.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 July 2017 source ↗

Bear Grylls

I love and admire Julia Roberts, one of our Running Wild guests, for the way she has a few close friends, is loyal to her family, doesn’t believe in all the fame stuff and can laugh at herself.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 January 2026 source ↗

Natalie Imbruglia

Alanis Morissette because, in my earlier career, she was a big influence on me and had a feistiness that you didn’t see much of in women in the industry. Also, she has been very vocal about mental health issues.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 July 2026 source ↗

Cynthia Nixon American actress and politician

Michelle Obama (not that Barack wouldn’t be right up there). She seems genuinely to enjoy her life and do the best with all the tasks that she sets her mind to.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 April 2017 source ↗