Tennis great Serena Williams has accomplished many things and overcome various obstacles to become the living legend she is. To inspire other women to pursue their dreams, Williams penned a powerful letter for Porter magazine urging women to “continue to dream big.”
Williams wrote that thanks to the support of her family, she was able to pursue a dream she’s had since she was a kid, but acknowledged that not many women have the same kind of support: “Too often women are not supported enough or are discouraged from choosing their path. I hope together we can change that.”
The tennis star went on to add that resilience has been key for her when facing racism or sexism as she dominated the tennis world. ”What others marked as flaws or disadvantages about myself – my race, my gender – I embraced as fuel for my success. I never let anything or anyone define me or my potential.”
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“People call me one of the “world’s greatest female athletes,” she wrote. “Do they say LeBron is one of the world’s best male athletes? Is Tiger? Federer? Why not? They are certainly not female. We should never let this go unchallenged. We should always be judged by our achievements, not by our gender.”
Williams encourages women to break down barriers and push past obstacles: “We must continue to dream big, and in doing so, we empower the next generation of women to be just as bold in their pursuits.”