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 HawkingThe Extraordinary Life of Michelle ObamaThe Extraordinary Life of Katherine JohnsonThe Extraordinary Life of Mahatma GandhiThe Extraordinary Life of Alan Turing The Extraordinary Life of Nelson MandelaThe Extraordinary Life of Greta ThunbergThe Extraordinary Life of Amelia EarhartThe Extraordinary Life of Nelson Mandela