Legends Muhammad Ali & Serena Williams Have Both Won this Prestigious Award

Tennis legend Serena Williams is one of the most celebrated athletes of all time. She has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles and has attained the highest level of achievement in tennis. The 40-year-old athlete who intends to retire after the current season is idolized by every young girl around the globe who aspires to be a sports person. In addition to all of her wonderful honors, she is also the recipient of an award alongside legendary boxer Muhammad Ali.

The International Athletic Association (IAA) presented the prestigious Jesse Owens Awards to Muhammad Ali and Serena Williams in 2016. The honor is granted to legendary athletes who exemplify Jesse Owens’ humanitarian and Olympian goals.

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Williams and Ali both firmly adhered to Owens’ three principles of integrity, perseverance, and service. Williams intends to retire at the end of this season.

Serena Williams reveals how boxing legend Muhammad Ali helped her in attaining greatness

Both Ali and Williams are Olympic gold medal winners. The two icons have carved a niche for themselves which would be idealized for generations. Ali is known to be the greatest boxer that ever walked this planet. Amongst the millions that he inspired, the tennis star is one of them who admires the man with whole her heart. 

Williams once stated that champions are not defined by their wins, but by how they recover when they fall. She added, “I have fallen several times. Each time I just get up and I dust myself off and I pray I’m able to do better or able to get back to the level that I want to be on. I think, for me, you see great people like Muhammad Ali, for instance, who is a person I have always looked up to in sports.”

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In addition to being the greatest boxer of all time, Muhammad Ali is also the greatest athlete to have ever set foot on the planet. Williams said that she has always admired “The People’s Champion,” and that admiration undoubtedly helped turn her into the finest tennis player in history.

Meanwhile, what do you think about Williams receiving the prestigious Jesse Owens award along with the legendary boxer? Share your thoughts in the comments below.