Serena Williams is: A Grand Slam champion An activist An inspiration Serena Williams began playing tennis when she was just a child, and is now an Olympic champion who's won more Grand Slam singles titles than anyone else. Throughout her life she's battled many things, from life-threatening illnesses and sports injuries, to sexism and racism in the tennis world. Now she's an icon in sport, fashion and activism, an inspiration to every young person who has dared to dream big. Explore other extraordinary lives: The Extraordinary Life of Stephen Hawking The Extraordinary Life of Michelle Obama The Extraordinary Life of Katherine Johnson The Extraordinary Life of Mahatma Gandhi The Extraordinary Life of Alan Turing The Extraordinary Life of Nelson Mandela The Extraordinary Life of Greta Thunberg The Extraordinary Life of Amelia Earhart The Extraordinary Life of Nelson Mandela