Serena Williams’ influence on sport and culture has been immortalized with her entry into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame Class of 2025, the formal induction earning the praise of Venus Williams as she celebrates her younger sister’s achievement.
The 43-year-old Serena and 45-year-old Venus won gold medals at the ‘Games in Australia (2000), Beijing (2008) and London (2012) as they became the only women to win golds in both doubles and singles events across their careers.
Now Serena’s latest milestone joins an already extraordinary list of achievements, including 23 Grand Slam singles titles and a Career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles, something nobody has managed to match.
She will be honored alongside celebrated athletes such as Allyson Felix, Gabby Douglas, Kerri Walsh Jennings, Bode Miller, and coaching legend Mike Krzyzewski as the Class of 2025 increases the total number of Hall of Fame members to 210 since its inception in 1983.
A special message from Venus
However, it is the reaction from those closest to her, especially her sister that captures the emotional weight of the moment for the woman regarded as the greatest female player of all-time.
“The biggest congrats to @serenawilliams on being inducted into the #TeamUSAHOF,” Venus posted to Instagram. “Watching your hard work and determination has been the biggest honor.
“Proud of you today and every day, sis.”
For Venus, who is herself a seven-time Grand Slam champion, to make such an acknowledgement strikes deeply personal chord and proved to be a nice touch for fans around the world, who are fond followers of the pair.
Accompanying her message was a four-photo collage that chronicled their journey: from childhood moments in matching tennis outfits, to sharing the Wimbledon stage, to their battles and embraces on court.
Together, the Williams sisters redefined women’s sports, breaking racial and gender barriers on a global stage and at the Olympics, they formed one of the most dominant doubles teams in history.
Olympic icons pour in love for Serena
Following the official announcement from Team USA, Serena received tributes from fellow Olympians. For example, Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time with 23 gold medals, congratulated her by simply writing, “Congrats!!!”
Whilst Allyson Felix, the most decorated female track and field athlete in U.S. history, expressed similar admiration.
Calling it “humbling” to be inducted alongside Williams, Felix noted how powerful it felt to share the moment with women she’s long admired; Serena, Gabby Douglas, and Kerri Walsh Jennings.
The official ceremony will take place on July 12, 2025, in Colorado Springs, offering a moment of reflection and celebration for one of the most transformative athletes in Olympic and tennis history.
Serena, now retired from the sport, will continue to celebrate her career with this latest honor that is thoroughly deserved for an iconic athlete both within the United States and around the world.
Read the full article here
