Women are slowly breaking through the glass ceiling in sports and becoming role models that inspire females everywhere.
From tennis pros such as Serena Williams to soccer superstars such as Carli Lloyd, the world of sports has seen its fair share of female athletes. Here are 4 famous female athletes you should know.
1. Serena Williams
Serena Williams is one of the top tennis players in the world. Known for her power on the court, Williams has racked up 22 women’s singles Grand Slam titles, and 62 career WTA wins.
Williams’ career record is 135 wins against 37 losses. She has never been defeated in a Grand Slam final, dating back to the Australian Open in January 2002. She is currently ranked No. 5 in the world.
Williams is the first African-American woman to win the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and she has been ranked No. 1 in the world for 87 consecutive weeks.
2. Mia Hamm
Mia Hamm was a professional soccer player and one of the greatest female players the world has ever seen. Hamm was a star for both the United States women’s and the German women’s national teams, winning gold medals at the 1996 Summer Olympics, the 1999 Women’s World Cup, and the 2004 Summer Olympics.
Hamm played professionally for the Chicago Red Stars, Carolina Courage, and Washington Freedom. Hamm was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2013 and was inducted into the World Soccer Hall of Fame in 2016.
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3. Ellen van der Merwe
South African rower Ellen van der Merwe won three consecutive World Rowing Championships at the lightweight women’s double sculls in 1998, 1999, and 2000.
Her victories earned her a spot in the World Rowing Hall of Fame and the International Rowing Federation Hall of Fame. Van der Merwe’s success at the World Rowing Championships earned her an ESPY for Best Performance in 1998, and she was named South African Sportsman of the Year in 1998 and 1999.
Van der Merwe was also the first South African to row in the Olympics, placing fifth in 2000.
4. Amanda Nunes
Amanda Nunes is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Nunes is known for her aggressive and powerful fighting style, earning her both praise and criticism from her fans and opponents.
After making her professional debut in 2010, Nunes quickly rose to prominence by winning her first 13 bouts and earning the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship and the Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Championship.
Nunes has also competed as a boxer, and she is a former Muay Thai fighter. After making her UFC debut in 2013, Nunes has quickly become one of the most popular fighters in the organization.
She is also one of the most high-profile female athletes globally, appearing alongside male athletes in commercials for a variety of products.
Famous Female Athletes to Know
Women have been making their mark in sports since the beginning of time, and they’re finally breaking through the glass ceiling and proving that they belong in the male-dominated world of professional sports.
From Serena Williams to Amanda Nunes, these female athletes are making their mark on the world of sports and leading the way for famous female athletes everywhere.
Want to know more about how women are changing the face of sports or other related topics? Continue to check out our other posts.