ALLEGHANY COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) — Those enjoying the peaceful waters of the Jackson River got quite the surprise with a (sports) star sighting right there in Alleghany County on Monday.

According to Alleghany Outdoors — a canoe, kayak, tube, raft, and bike rental service in Covington — renowned tennis player Venus Williams enjoyed some relaxing tubing along the Jackson River with her hitting coach on Monday, July 27.

“The cool beautiful tranquil waters of the #JacksonRiver brought tennis legend #VenusWilliams to the #alleghanyhighlandsofvirginia, for some much needed relaxation!” Alleghany Outdoors wrote on Facebook.

Matthew Fischer, the manager at Alleghany Outdoors, told WFXR News Williams also spent some time with the Girls Empowered by Mountain Shepherd (GEMS) campers from Mountain Shepherd Adventure School in Catawba after Fischer mentioned the group to her.

“She totally embraced the idea and hung out with the group for over 30 minutes. They even taught her how to start a camp fire, which she had always wanted to learn to do,” said Fischer. “She gave them an inspirational speech about courage and before she left informed the group they all had tickets to go watch her match at the Greenbrier.”

In addition, Fischer says Williams not only hung out with the campers before and after her tennis matches on Wednesday, July 29, but she even moved them to better seats.

“She was a world class example of how fame and power should represent themselves and is a natural born charismatic leader and coach,” Fischer told WFXR News.

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