It is a sweltering Georgia summer day, with the temperature creeping into the triple digits and the humidity hanging in the air like an oppressive, invisible force.Sonequa Martin-Green and Andrew Lincoln are tasked with sprinting up and down a hill on this day -- over and over again.They both pull muscles in their legs, but cant stop, no matter how much it hurts. Not until everything is perfect.This is a typical scenario on the set of one of televisions most beloved shows, The Walking Dead. While one day can be radically different from the next, for Martin-Green, who plays the fierce and determined Sasha Williams, its all part of the regular challenge that makes her love her job so much -- pulled muscles and all.The series, which focuses on a group of survivors and their struggles to stay alive and adapt in the midst of a zombie apocalypse, debuted on AMC in October of 2010 and has since become a ratings juggernaut, drawing more than 17 millions viewers for its season premiere on Oct. 23. Martin-Green, who initially auditioned for the role of Michonne (Danai Gurira), was cast as Sasha beginning in Season 3 and has been a series regular ever since. Now in its seventh season, its filmed annually on location from May to November in Atlanta and the surrounding area.The scene above, which was part of Season 4, included the two stars (Lincoln plays protagonist Rick Grimes) culling walkers -- or zombies, for those unfamiliar with the series -- to the fence of the prison, in which the characters were living. When called by another character for help, the duo runs to the rescue. And while the final result is only a few minutes of the episode, it took hours of blood, sweat and tears. We just had to keep doing that -- up and down, and up and down the hill, said Martin-Green by phone from Los Angeles this week.It felt like it was 500 degrees that day. It was excruciating, and Andy and I both randomly ended up pulling our quads. We both kept going to the medic and saying Give us more of that rub!However, while the show is clearly physically grueling, its something she inadvertently spent her whole life preparing for. Starting in gymnastics at 8 years old, Martin-Green later got into softball and volleyball -- two sports in which she excelled in at Russellville High School in Alabama. As a theater major at the University of Alabama, she channeled her athleticism into stage combat and even received proficiency certifications from the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD) in eight different weapons disciplines, including single sword, quarterstaff and knife.While the casting process didnt include a specific combat or stunt audition, nor did she do any specific training after being cast, the 31-year-old was immediately game for everything thrown her way on set.I do as many of my stunts as they will let me, she said. Thats the same for everyone on the show. Everyone is always down. We all push the limits as much as we can -- up until its to the point where its truly unsafe, I will do my own.From battling walkers to shooting guns to jumping over obstacles, Martin-Green has put her physicality on full display during her time on the show. An avid weightlifter, she remembers a time when she was trying to bulk up and increase her muscle mass but was unable due to the extreme cardio exercise she had on set. I was basically just running off all the muscle I was gaining, she explained.While every season presents a unique set of challenges, Season 5 was particularly tough for Martin-Green as she was pregnant with her first child (with husband and TWD actor Kenric Green, who plays Scott) throughout its duration. When the season wrapped in November of 2014, she had passed the eight-month mark. While her expanding stomach was regularly covered with weapons and various other props, she couldnt shy away from the action her character had grown to be known for.Martin-Green fought through morning sickness, fatigue and the elements, and maintained the same level of intensity she had previously. During a shoot near the end of the season, she recalls filming a fight scene on a bridge which required her to be constantly moving all day in the direct sunlight. Calling it one of the most difficult stunts she had ever done, she was unsure if she would be able to get through it, but she somehow managed.And while pregnancy is unique on the set, injuries are not. She and all of her co-stars have dealt with their fair share of bumps and bruises during the years.?A lot of stuff goes wrong, she said. Its such an intense show physically. Things are happening all the time. So whether someone passed out from heat exhaustion, or someone twisted their ankle, or accidentally stabbed themselves, or got hit in the head with a prop gun, the medic is just around all the time, and always needed.But, despite the risks and exhausting shoots, Martin-Green loves to be tested every day by the role. And shes grateful to have the opportunity to play such a strong character. Citing Sashas realistic evolution throughout the series, her development allows her to fully challenge herself as an actor. And as difficult as the fight scenes are, the emotional, dialogue-laden scenes are equally demanding --- something that she relishes.Its just so fun whenever I get a new script, she said. Especially because my character isnt in the comic (the show is based on a comic series by writers Robert Kirkman and artist Tony Moore), so I have this sort of infinite landscape to look at and to look forward to. I love it, and I love the way stories are told on the show.I love all the prevailing themes on the show -- one of them being female empowerment. And I love that its told in such a way that it doesnt beat you over the head with it, which I think is invaluable. Its presented in a way thats authentic and organic, and in that way, I think its much more inspiring.Martin-Green has been able to experience the rabid reach and impact of the show firsthand at various fan-centric events like Comic-Con and Walker Stalker Con, and thinks of everyone involved with the show, from the cast and crew to those watching at home from their couch, as one big family. While shes occasionally confused by an approaching fan at the grocery store (Im always thinking at first, do I know this person from somewhere?), she is thrilled when someone tells them how much they enjoy the show, or when a young girl on the street greets her with a, Hi Sasha!With the mid-season finale airing Sunday night, Martin-Green, like all of her castmates, is notoriously tight-lipped about what viewers can expect, but does promise an epic 90 minutes. So much so, she whistled emphatically about it for about 15 seconds after being asked about it.?Everyone will be embarking on their own kind of path, and youll see how theyre coping with this whole new world, she shared. Everyone is on their own [journey] in doing that, and well see where those paths lead. Its so tough because I really cant say anything. 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Sulaiman, 44, was chosen unanimously Tuesday in a vote by the leadership, the World Boxing Council said. Sulaiman becomes the sixth president of the organization.RIO DE JANEIRO -- Out of sorts and out of answers, defending champion Serena Williams is out of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.Shanking shots of all sorts, including five -- yes, five! -- double-faults in one game alone, Williams lost to Elina Svitolina of Ukraine 6-4, 6-3 in the third round in a real shocker Tuesday, ending the No. 1-seeded Americans bid to become the first tennis player to collect a pair of singles golds.It didnt work out the way I wanted it to, Williams said.Facing an unheralded opponent who at times couldnt seem to miss, Williams had problems right from the start, when she got broken to fall behind 2-1 with a badly missed overhead into the net.That set a pattern.By the end, Svitolina had won 63 points, but merely nine came via clean winners of her own doing. The others came thanks to Williams 37 unforced errors and 17 forced errors.The better player won, said Williams, who did not take questions from the media after the match and instead did a brief interview with a U.S. Tennis Association spokesman who shared the audio with reporters.After winning golds in singles and doubles at the 2012 London Olympics, Williams heads home from Brazil with nothing. She and her older sister Venus, who sat in the stands Tuesday, lost in the first round as the No. 1 seed in womens doubles -- their first defeat in the Olympics after going 15-0 with three golds.Of the four tennis events under way in Rio -- mixed doubles hasnt started yet -- all four No. 1 seeds are gone, including Novak Djokovic in mens singles.No one in the history of Olympic tennis has ever won two gold medals in singles, and while Williams wont achieve that this week, Andy Murray or Rafael Nadal still could.Both moved into the third round Tuesday. Neither has been tested much, dropping a total of nine games apiece so far.This is Nadals first tournament since he pulled out of the French Open in May with an injured tendon sheath in his left wrist, and the No. 3 seed wasnt even sure he would compete until testing his arm once he arrived in Brazil. Still, everything is going exactly to plan for the owner of 14 Grand Slam championships and the 2008 Beijing Olympic title, who beat Italys Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-3.Not much pressure for me, Nadal said. Two months without competing, I dont expect much.Murray, who won gold at the 2012 London Games and is seeded No. 2, breezed past Argentinas Juan Monaco 6-3, 6-1.The womens quarterfinals are set: Svitolina vs. Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic; Angelique Keerber of Germany vs.dddddddddddd Johanna Konta of Britain; Madison Keys of the U.S. vs. Daria Kasatkina of Russia; and Monica Puig of Puerto Rico vs. Laura Siegemund of Germany.No. 3 Garbine Muguruza, who beat Williams to win the French Open title, also lost Tuesday, 6-1, 6-1 against Puig.The 20th-ranked Svitolina never before played in the Olympics and only once has been to a major quarterfinal. She also entered the night 0-4 against Williams, an owner of 22 Grand Slam singles championships.Unreal feeling, Svitolina said after the biggest win of her career, adding: Its so special to beat her here.Their most recent match came at the French Open, and Williams won 6-1, 6-1.Give credit this time to Svitolina, who played a fearless brand of big-strike tennis, sending deep groundstrokes off both wings toward lines and managing to put most right where she wanted them.Im really happy I could take risks, Svitolina said.She ended the first set with an ace and a blank stare, as if this were no big deal and she knew she would do this all along.Afterward, she sounded as if she did.I was expecting that I can play well, as well, and just push her to her limits, Svitolina said. Obviously, she was not playing well today.After 45 minutes, she was up a set and a break at 2-1 in the second. She got to break point with a big forehand that forced an errant forehand from Williams, then converted with an inside-out forehand return winner off a 97 mph (157 kph) second serve.When she held in the next game, it was 3-1, and Svitolina was merely three games from a monumental upset.But Williams did not go quietly.Screaming Come on! after some points and Ahhhh! after others, waving her arms either to celebrate or remonstrate herself, she held, then broke, to pull even at 3-all in the second set. And then one of the greatest fighters in her -- or any other -- sport simply faded down the stretch.Oddly so, too, with that five-double-fault game; she finished with eight. At one point in the game that ended with her getting broken to trail 4-3, Williams leaned forward and tapped her racket twice against the court. She did, however, refrain from smashing it the way she had a night earlier, cracking the equipment against her sideline chair during a ragged first set.On Monday, Williams managed to turn things around, as she so often does. This time, though, she never could. ' ' '