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7 Things We Learned About Serena Williams From Sports Illustrated

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TENNIS-PHI-IPTL
US tennis player Serena Williams of the Philippine Mavericks serves against Australias Samantha Stosur of the Indian Aces in the women's singles of the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) competition in Manila on December 8, 2015. Williams won 6-3. AFP PHOTO / TED ALJIBE / AFP / TED ALJIBE (Photo credit should read TED ALJIBE/AFP/Getty Images)Ted Aljibe—AFP/Getty Images
By Eliana Dockterman

Sports Illustrated named Serena Williams Sportsperson of the Year on Monday, citing her astounding record winning four Grand Slam Tournaments in a row, her grace in defeat when she was upset at the U.S. Open, and how outspoken she has been about issues of racism and sexism as a leader in the world of sports and culture.

But while everyone may know that Serena Williams is arguably the greatest living American athlete, here are a few non-tennis facts you may not have heard about the tennis star.

  • Back in 2005, Serena and Venus Williams starred in their own reality show, Venus and Serena: For Real
  • Both Venus and Serena Williams are part owners of the Miami Dolphins.
  • She has competed in three Olympic Games and won four gold medals.
  • She helped friend and Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg through the death of her husband.
  • Williams is No. 47 on Forbes’ 2015 list of highest-paid athletes. The only woman ranked above her is Maria Sharapova, who has lost 18 of 20 head-to-head matches with Williams.
  • Earlier this year, she chased down a man who tried to steal her phone and caught him.
  • Serena Williams’ fashion mentor is none other than legendary Vogue editor Anna Wintour. She’s helped the tennis star refine her designs for two New York Fashion week shows.

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    Write to Eliana Dockterman at eliana.dockterman@time.com