Serena Williams

In professional sports, debate abounds over who is the GOAT (greatest of all time). Media personalities love to argue about it. Tom Brady versus Joe Montana. Cristiano Ronaldo versus Lionel Messi. Michael Jordan versus Lebron James. One name rises to the top amid these conversations — the name of someone who has dominated sports in ways that no other athletes can compare to: Serena Williams.

Born September 26, 1981, in Saginaw, Michigan, and raised in Compton, California, Williams is the youngest of five daughters. Her father, a former sharecropper from Louisiana, learned how to coach Serena and her older sister Venus from tennis books and videos. In daily two-hour practices, the Williams sisters worked themselves to the bone on a concrete court, avoiding potholes and often practicing without nets.

Through her formative years, Serena Williams developed tenacity, resilience and fortitude — qualities that would characterize her game on and off the court. Williams transcended the historically white and demure sport of tennis by being herself — with solid curves, a signature Afro-style ponytail, and an energetic style of play.

Her resume boasts a record-setting and scarcely believable 23 Grand Slam titles, six U.S. Opens, seven Wimbledon titles, seven Australian Opens, three French Opens, four Olympic gold medals, 23 doubles titles, and a career Golden Slam. Equally remarkable as her athletic achievements is her spirit – her ability to rise above the criticism of her age, game, and body – to set the standard for accomplishment in sports.

“Whether she’s serving tennis balls at 128 mph, designing affordable fashion, or teaming up with Beyoncé in music videos, Williams’ lengthy resume solidifies her place among sport’s all-time greats.” — Trudy Joseph