Serena Williams

Sport: Tennis
Years Active: 1995-Present

It would be too easy to talk about Serena's much-publicized and scrutinized backside, so we'll just say that it is but one of her many assets. She also is a big time earner (over $42 million in career winnings, the most of any female athlete in history) and a huge success on the court (30 total Grand Slam titles). Plus, she's done a significant amount of modeling, both for her own fashion line as well as in the 2003 and 2004 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. If you'd forgotten just how sexy she is, her appearance in the 2009 ESPN Body Issue reminded the world of her goddess-like figure.

• NAME: Serena Williams
• OCCUPATION: Tennis Player
• BIRTH DATE: September 26, 1981 (Age: 32)
• PLACE OF BIRTH: Saginaw, Michigan
• ZODIAC SIGN: Libra

Best Known For

American professional tennis player Serena Williams has won 29 Grand Slam titles and several Olympic gold medals.

Synopsis

Born on September 26, 1981 in Saginaw, Michigan, Serena Williams began playing tennis at an early age, enduring daily two-hour practices with her father at age three. In 1995, Serena turned pro, and, along with her sister Venus, enjoyed a run of high-profile victories. In 2009, Serena was fined and placed on probation for allegedly threatening a lineswoman, but she quickly moved past the incident. After a series of health scares in 2011,Williams beat Agnieszka Radwanska at Wimbledon 2012, claiming her fifth Wimbledon singles title. At the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, she won two gold medals, in women's doubles and women's singles—her first singles gold medal. In June 2013, Williams won her second French Open title against defending champion Maria Sharapova. She picked up another U.S. Open title that September.

Early Life

American tennis player Serena Jameka Williams was born on September 26, 1981 in Saginaw, Michigan. The youngest of Richard and Oracene Williams's five daughters, Serena Williams, along with her sister Venus, would eventually dominate the sport at various times throughout her career, capturing 15 Grand Slam singles and 13 Grand Slam doubles titles. Serena's father a former sharecropper from Louisiana determined to see his two youngest girls succeed used what he'd gleaned from tennis books and videos to instruct Serena and Venus on how to play the game. At the age of 3, practicing on a court not far from the family's new Compton, California, home, Serena withstood the rigors of daily two-hour practices from her father.
The fact that the family had relocated to Compton was no accident. With its high rate of gang activity, Richard Williams wanted to expose his daughters to the ugly possibilities of life "if they did not work hard and get an education." In this setting, on courts that were riddled with potholes and sometimes missing nets, Serena and Venus cut their teeth on the game of tennis and the requirements for persevering in a tough climate. By 1991, Serena was 46-3 on the junior United States Tennis Association tour, and ranked first in the 10-and-under division. Sensing his girls needed better instruction to become successful professionals, he moved his family again this time to Florida. There, Richard let go of some of his coaching responsibilities, but not the management of Serena's and Venus's career. Wary of his daughters burning out too quickly, he scaled back their junior tournament schedule.

Tennis Star

In 1995, Serena turned pro. Two years later, she was already No. 99 in the world rankings—up from 304 just 12 months before. A year later, she graduated high school, and almost immediately inked a $12 million shoe deal with Puma. In 1999, she beat out her sister in their race to the family's first Grand Slam win, when she captured the U.S. Open title. It set the stage for a run of high-powered, high profile victories for both Williams sisters. Over the next decade, Serena alone would win 23 Grand Slam titles—including 10 doubles championships with her sister, Venus Williams.With their signature style and play, Venus and Serena changed the look of their sport as well. Their sheer power and athletic ability overwhelmed opponents, and their sense of style and presence made them stand-out celebrities on the court. Proving to have much more than just tennis clout, Serena expanded her brand into film, television, and fashion. She developed her own "Aneres" line of clothing, and in 2002 People magazine selected her as one of its 25 Most Intriguing People. Essence magazine later called her one of the country's 50 Most Inspiring African-Americans. She's also made television appearances, and lent her voice to shows such as The Simpsons. In 2002, she won the French Open, the U.S. Open, and Wimbledon, defeating Venus in the finals of each tournament. She captured her first Australian Open in 2003, making her one of only five women players to have complete grand slam sets. The win also fulfilled her desire to finish off what she'd dubbed "The Serena Slam." In 2008, she won the U.S. Open and teamed with Venus to capture a second women's doubles Olympic gold medal at the Beijing Games. But Serena has had her scrapes and losses. In 2003, her sister Yetunde Price was murdered in Los Angeles, California. Three years later, Serena seemed burned out. Bitten by injuries, and just a general lack of motivation to stay fit or compete at the same level she once had, Serena saw her tennis ranking slump to 139. Serena credits her faith as a Jehovah's Witness, as well as a life-changing journey she made to West Africa for renewing her pride and competitive fire. By 2009, Williams had released a new autobiography, Queen of the Court, and won her place back atop the world's rankings, winning both the 2009 Australian Open singles (for the fourth time) and Wimbledon 2009 singles (for the third time). She also won the doubles matches at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon that year. But not everything went smoothly. Williams made headlines in September of that year, when she blasted a lineswomen for a foot-fault called near the end of a semi-final loss to eventual champion Kim Clijsters at the U.S. Open. The profanity-laced outburst included finger pointing and, according to the lineswoman, an alleged threat from Serena against her life.
Williams downplayed what happened, refuting the allegation that she'd threatened the woman. But the incident did not go over well with the tennis viewing public, nor the U.S. Tennis Association, which fined her $10,000 on the spot. Two months later, she was placed on two-year probation and ordered to pay another $82,500 to the Grand Slam committee for the episode&mdashthe largest punishment ever levied against a tennis player. By early 2010, however, Serena was doing her best to move past the incident, gearing up for the upcoming Australian Open. Sure enough, in 2010, she won the Australian Open singles and doubles matches, as well as her fourth Wimbledon singles championship. In 2011, Williams suffered a series of health scares, after doctors found a blood clot in one of her lungs, which kept her away from tennis for several months. Following several procedures, including one to remove a hematoma, speculation rose as to whether Williams would retire from the sport. Her health had improved by September 2011, however, and Williams competed at the U.S. Open, beating Victoria Azarenka to place second overall in the singles tournament.
Several months later, Williams beat Victoria Azarenka again in the Wimbledon 2012 semfinals, and went on to defeat 23-year-old Agnieszka Radwanska in an emotional three sets at Wimbledon 2012, claiming her fifth Wimbledon singles title. Following the win, Williams rushed to her family in the stands, with tears in her eyes, and hugged them for several seconds. In a post-Wimbledon interview with ESPN, she was asked whether she thought she could top the win, and answered: "Are you kidding? The [2012] U.S. Open, the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon 2013." Williams continued her winning streak to her next Grand Slam event. In September 2012, she beat out rival Victoria Azarenka to take the singles title at the U.S. Open. According to USA Today, Williams wasn't sure that she'd emerge victorious. "I honestly can't believe I won. I was really reparing my runner-up speech, because I thought, 'Man, she's playing so great.'"
By this time, Williams had captured 15 Grand Slam singles titles surpassing tennis star Pete Sampras's record of 14 titles as well as 13 Grand Slam doubles titles. "I would like to leave a mark," Williams once said about her standing in the tennis world. "I think obviously I will, due to the fact that I'm doing something different in tennis. But I don't think I could ever reach something like a Martina Navratilova I don't think I'd ever play that long but who knows? I think I'll leave a mark regardless." In August 2012, at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, Williams defeated Maria Sharapova to take her first gold medal in women's singles. The next day, she and sister Venus won gold in women's doubles, against Czech Republic tennis stars Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka. Williams is now a four-time Olympic gold medalist. In June 2013, Williams took her second French Open title as well as her 16th Grand Slam singles title in a 6-4, 6-4 victory over defending champion Sharapova. "I'm still a little bit upset about that loss last year," Williams said in an interview with ESPN following the match. "But it's all about, for me, how you recover. I think I've always said a champion isn't about how much they win, but it's about how they recover from their downs, whether it's an injury or whether it's a loss." Nearly one month later, Williams competed at Wimbledon, where she suffered a shocking loss (6-2, 1-6, 6-4) in the fourth round against German player Sabine Lisicki on July 1, 2013. The upset marked the end of a 34-match winning streak by Williams, a five-time champion. Of the defeat, Williams told Sports Illustrated, "I don't think it's a huge shock. Lisicki is a great player. Her ranking has no effect on what she should be. She should be ranked higher. She just has a super, super game to play well on grass." At the U.S. Open, Williams made a strong showing. She knocked out her younger rival Sloane Stephens in the fourth round to advance to the quarterfinals. Williams had lost to Stephens earlier in the year at the Australian Open. Continuing her winning streak,

Personal Life

Williams lives in Palm Beach, Florida with her sister, Venus, and their two dogs, a Jack Russell terrier and a Maltese.

Lindsey Vonn

Sport: Skiing
Years Active: 2000-Present

Vonn isn't just one of the most beautiful downhill skiers of all time, she's also one of the most successful. This blonde bombshell has four World Cup titles and an Olympic gold medal to her credit, in addition to being the face of her sport in the United States. She has sponsorship deals with Rolex and Under Armour (among others), and was featured in both the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and the Maxim Hot 100 in 2010.
After suffering a broken leg and torn knee ligaments in early February, though, it looks like it may be quite a while before fans get to see Vonn compete again.

• NAME: Lindsey Vonn
• OCCUPATION: Athlete
• BIRTH DATE: October 18, 1984 (Age: 29)
• PLACE OF BIRTH: St. Paul, Minnesota
• AKA: Lindsey Kildow
• AKA: Lindsey Vonn
• Full Name: Lindsey Caroline Vonn
• Maiden Name: Lindsey Caroline Kildow
• ZODIAC SIGN: Libra

Best Known For

Lindsey Vonn is an American alpine skiier who has won numerous competitions, including four World Cup overall titles. She won a gold medal in the downhill event at the 2010 Olympics.

Synopsis

Born in Massachusetts in 1984, skier Lindsey Vonn started racing at the age of 7, and won the Trofeo Topolino competition in Italy when she was 14 years old. In 2002, Vonn made her Olympic debut at the Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. Just before the next Olympics, in 2006, She had a terrible crash on the slopes. During the 2007-08 season, Vonn won her first World Cup overall victory—a feat she repeated several times over the following years. In 2010, she won a gold medal in the downhill event and a bronze in the Super G. Three years later, Vonn suffered an injury that required reconstructive knee surgery. She announced that she wouldn't compete in the 2014 Winter Olympics due to her injury. Vonn remains one of the top competitive skiers in the world.

Natural Born Athlete

Born Lindsey Caroline Kildow on October 18, 1984, in St. Paul, Minnesota, Lindsey Vonn is one of the world's top female skiers. Growing up in Minnesota, with her four siblings, Vonn began her ascent to sports stardom as a toddler, when her father, former competitive skier Alan Kildow, first put her on skis. He would later serve as her first coach. Vonn started racing at the age of 7. Two years later, she moved on to international competitions. Vonn trained locally with coach Erich Sailer before moving to Vail, Colorado, in the late 1990s. In 1999, the 14-year-old Vonn made history when she won the slalom at Trofeo Topolino in Italy, becoming the first American woman to attain this honor. Over the next few years, she excelled as a junior competitor, and was selected for the U.S. Ski team for 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. The following year, she won a silver medal at the Junior World Championship.

Leading Female Skier

In 2005, Vonn joined the Red Bull Athletes Special Projects and began working with a new coaching team. Around this time, Vonn wrote on her website: "I had a feeling this was going to be my big chance." Vonn had high hopes for the 2006 Olympic Games in Turino, Italy, but during a practice run, she had a terrible accident and ended up in the hospital. She still competed, however, coming in seventh in the Super G and eighth in the downhill events. Vonn made an impressive comeback the following year, winning two silver medals at the 2007 World Championships in Sweden, in the downhill and the Super G. Vonn then began her winning streak at the World Cup in 2008, with a downhill championship victory—marking her domination of the sport. In 2009, she took the gold in the downhill and Super G competitions at the World Championships and won both the downhill and Super G events at the World Cup. In 2010, Vonn got the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream. She won two medals at the Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada; she earned the top honor her ( first gold medal ) in the downhill, and took home the bronze in the Super G. Over the next few years, Vonn continued to dominate the sport. She took top honors at the World Cup in the downhill, Super G and combined events over three consecutive seasons.

Injuries and 2014 Winter Olympics

On February 5, 2013, Vonn suffered a debilitating injury at the World Championships in Austria. After tearing both her ACL and MCL, along with fracturing her lateral tibial plateau,
she underwent reconstructive knee surgery soon after. It took several months of recovery for Vonn to recover before she would be able to hit the slopes once again. She was next seen skiing at a training camp in August. All seemed well as Vonn stated that her injured right knee felt as good as her left on the slopes, but she aggravated her injury while training on November 19. She competed and placed 40th, 11th and fifth in the Super G at Lake Louise, Alberta, the following month. Unfortunately, only two weeks later, she had to remove herself from a World Cup downhill competition in Val d'lsere, France, after her MCL was sprained. The sprain, in addition to her torn ACL, made Vonn's likelihood in competing during the 2014 Winter Olympics unlikely. She announced on January 7, 2014, that she would not be able to compete in the Winter Olympics. During her impressive career, Vonn has won nearly 60 World Cup victories, and is on target to surpass Annemarie Moser-Pröll's 62 wins in the coming years.

Personal Life

Vonn made headlines in 2012, when it was reported that she was dating American golf superstar Tiger Woods. The pair went public with their romance in March 2013.
Vonn was previously married to former competitive skier Thomas Vonn from 2007 to 2011.

Caroline Wozniacki

Sport: Tennis
Years Active: 2006-Present

Another great beauty of tennis, Wozniacki held the no. 1 ranking in the world for 67 weeks through the beginning of 2012 and has 20 singles titles to her credit. While she has not yet broken through to win a major, that hasn't stopped her from cashing in; according to Forbes, she was the second-highest paid female athlete in the world for 2011 at a cool $12.5 million.
While it may never replace tennis as her day job, modeling has been another avenue Wozniacki has dabbled in, most recently for her own brand of underwear. With her abilities, looks and checkbook, we'd say life is pretty good for Caroline right now.

• NAME: Caroline Wozniacki
• OCCUPATION: Tennis Player
• BIRTH DATE: July 11, 1990 (Age: 23)
• PLACE OF BIRTH: Odense, Denmark
• Full Name: Caroline Wozniacki
• ZODIAC SIGN: Cancer

Best Known For

Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki has been ranked No. 1 on the WTA Tour, and is the youngest singles player worldwide to be ranked in the top 10.

Synopsis

Professional tennis player Caroline Wozniacki was born on July 11, 1990 in Odense, Denmark. Playing tennis since the age of 7, Wozniacki has won several titles, including the 2006 Junior Championships in Wimbledon and six Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles titles. At the 2009 U.S. Open, Wozniacki made it to the women's singles final round, before losing to Belgian tennis star Kim Clijsters. Wozniacki advanced to the third round of the 2012 French Open, held in June,before losing to Estonia's Kaia Kanepi. She has been ranked No. 1 on the WTA Tour, and is the youngest singles player worldwide to be ranked in the top 10.

Early Life

Professional tennis player Caroline Wozniacki was born on July 11, 1990, in Odense, Denmark, to parents Piotr and Anna Wozniacki, who were both professional athletes. Wozniacki began playing tennis at the age of 7, and was coached by her father, Piotr. According to her website, Wozniacki's biggest inspirations are tennis stars Martina Hingis and Steffi Graf.

Pro Tennis Career

When Wozniacki was 14, in 2004, she won the Japan Osaka Mayor's Cup's singles title. She continued to win titles from that point on, including the 2006 Junior Championships in Wimbledon and, once she turned pro, six Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles titles. At the 2009 U.S. Open, Wozniacki made it to the women's singles final round, before losing to Belgian tennis star Kim Clijsters. That November, she reached the semifinals of the Sony Ericsson Championships, beating both Vera Zvonareva and Victoria Azarenka.
Wozniacki advanced to the third round of the 2012 French Open, held in June, before losing to Estonia's Kaia Kanepi. She is slated to compete in the 2012 Wimbledon Championship.
In 2008, Wozniacki was named the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Newcomer of the Year. Wozniacki has been ranked No. 1 on the WTA Tour, and is the youngest singles player worldwide to be ranked in the top 10.

Personal Life

Wozniacki currently lives in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Her brother, Patrik, plays pro soccer in Denmark. Her father, Piotr, was a professional soccer player in Poland and Denmark. Her mother, Anna, was a professional volleyball player in Poland.

Gabrielle Reece

Sport: Volleyball
Years Active: 1989-2000

Reece is an absolute legend of volleyball, sustaining a long professional career after setting numerous records at her alma mater, Florida State University. While she never competed on the Olympic level, she did dominate the Women's Beach Volleyball League for many years in the mid-'90s, winning the league's inaugural championship.
This success on the court led to a number of opportunities off it, with Reece being named one of Elle's five most beautiful women in the world in 1989. She finally took the plunge in 2001, appearing on the cover of Playboy and finally satisfying the curiosity of anyone who was a teenager in the late '80s and early '90s.

• NAME: Gabrielle Reece
• OCCUPATION: Activist, Athlete, Model
• BIRTH DATE: January 06, 1970 (Age: 44)
• EDUCATION: Keswick Christian High School, Florida State University
• PLACE OF BIRTH: La Jolla, California
• Full Name: Gabrielle Allyse Reece
• AKA: Gabrielle Reece
• AKA: Gabby Reece
• ZODIAC SIGN: Capricorn

Best Known For

One of the greatest women's beach volleyball players of all-time, Gabrielle Reece is also a successful model, actress, writer and fitness expert.

Synopsis

Gabrielle Reece was born in California in 1970. Raised in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Florida, Reece made a name for herself at Florida State University, where she starred for the school's volleyball team and launched her career as a successful model. She later became one of the leading faces of professional beach volleyball. Reece is married to surfer Laird Hamilton.

Early Years

Gabrielle Allyse Reece was born on January 6, 1970, in La Jolla, California. A single child, she was just 5 years old when her father died unexpectedly in a plane crash. The tragedy left Reece's upbringing in the hands of her mother, Terry Glynn, a writer and ex-dolphin trainer. Glynn eventually remarried and the new family soon settled in St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Several years later, Reece and her mom moved St. Petersburg, Florida. Late to the game of volleyball—she was already in the 11th grade when she first tried the sport the tall and athletic Reece was a natural on the court and earned an athletic scholarship to Florida State University, where she studied communications. Quickly, Reece garnered attention not just for her play, but for her stunning looks. In her sophomore year, Elle magazine named the 6'3" blonde beauty on its list of "The Five Most Beautiful Women in the World." For the rest of her time at FSU, Reece juggled her modeling career, academic responsibilities and life as a college volleyball player. On the court, especially, Reece continued to excel, ultimately setting school records in both career solo blocks and total blocks. In 1989, she was named the Dodge National Athletics Awards' "Most Inspiring Collegiate Athlete," and was named on Rolling Stone magazine's "Wonder Women of the Year" list. Florida State inducted Reece into its Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997.

Pro Volleyball Career

In 1992, Gabrielle Reece quit modeling and concentrated her life completely on professional volleyball. Over the next several years, she became the face of women's beach volleyball. The Women's Beach Volleyball League named her "Offensive Player of the Year" in 1994-95, and for four straight seasons (1993-96), she led the league in kills. Reece went on to steer her four-person team to a title at the 1997 Beach Volleyball Championships. Three years later, she competed at the 1999-2000 Olympic Challenge Series. That same season, she took part in the FIVB Beach Volleyball Tour. Gabby Reece's success on the court only amplified her celebrity. Nike tapped her to become the first female athlete to design a shoe, and, for six straight years (1993-99), she served as the company's cross-training spokesperson.

Other Ventures

Reece has managed to leverage her sports and modeling careers into many other pursuits. Her fitness products feature a number of DVD workouts, including several geared toward expecting mothers. She's also written regularly about health and fitness for a range of publications, including the Los Angeles Times and The Huffington Post.
Reece's on-screen credits include the films Cloud Nine (2004) and North Shore (2004), the CBS sitcom Garry Unmarried (2008-10), and NBC's The Biggest Loser (2004).
Additionally, Reece has authored two books, the autobiography Big Girl in the Middle (1998) and My Foot is Too Big for the Glass Slipper: A Guide to the Less Than Perfect Life (2013).

Family Life

In November 1997, Gabrielle Reece married professional surfer Laird Hamilton. The couple has two daughters together, Reece Viola Hamilton (born in 2003) and Brody Jo Hamilton (born in 2008).

Anna Kournikova

Sport: Tennis
Years Active: 1996-2003

While she may not have had the most decorated of careers, Kournikova may very well be the most famous female athlete in history. After she won several tournaments before she turned pro in 1996, the tennis and sporting worlds began to take notice of the Russian teen and her obvious beauty. While she never did win a singles title, she did experience a modicum of success in doubles, winning the 1999 and 2002 Australian Open and 16 tournaments overall.
Her biggest successes have come off the court, though, where Kournikova has modeled for several magazines, including the 2004 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and appeared as a celebrity trainer on The Biggest Loser.

• NAME: Anna Kournikova
• OCCUPATION: Tennis Player, Model, Reality Television Star
• BIRTH DATE: June 07, 1981 (Age: 32)
• PLACE OF BIRTH: Moscow, Russia
• Full Name: Anna Sergeyevna Kournikova
• AKA: Anna Kournikova
• ZODIAC SIGN: Gemini

Best Known For

Anna Kournikova is a Russian professional tennis player, well known for her beauty. At her peak, she was one of the best known players worldwide.

Synopsis

Anna Kournikova is a Russian professional tennis player. At age 15, she reached the fourth round of the U.S. Open, and at age 16 she reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon. In 1999, she won two Grand Slam doubles titles with partner Martina Hingis. However, she was soon ranking quite low in tournaments. Despite her losing record, her fame grew thanks to her modeling career and personal life.

Early Life

Tennis player Anna Sergeyevna Kournikova was born on June 7, 1981, in Moscow, Russia. The daughter of Alla and Sergei Kournikov, Anna began playing competitive tennis early on. She was competing in the juniors by age 9and within two years, she was headed to the U.S. to train at Nick Bollettieri's famed Florida tennis academy. She subsequently won several international junior tennis tournaments and was declared the Junior European Champion and Junior World Champion in 1995. At age 15, Kournikova reached the fourth round of the U.S. Open, and at age 16 she reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon. In 1999, she won two Grand Slam doubles titles with partner Martina Hingis. However, in 130 singles tournaments she only reached the finals four times, never winning, and spent the bulk of her career ranked out of the top thirty.

Career Highlights

Despite her losing record, Kournikova?s fame grew steadily thanks to her modeling career and publicity surrounding her personal life. This media attention often focused on romantic liaisons with such celebrities as pop star Enrique Iglesias and hockey player Sergei Fedorov. She has also attempted a career in acting, appearing briefly in 2000s Me, Myself and Irene. Kournikova has retired from the WTA tour, but continues to plays exhibition matches for charitable causes.