Serena Williams:’SI’ Sportsperson of the Year

Serena Williams added to one of the longest resumes in sports by collecting the Sportsperson of the Year award from Sports Illustrated, becoming only the third individual woman to claim the honour since its 1956 inception. Does Serena totally turn up the heat on the red carpet or do you wish she left a little more to the imagination?

She delivered a touching speech, which managed to mix emotional thank yous with amusing anecdotes – including why she made winning the US Open her first goal and not, say, Wimbledon.

The tennis star arrived at the awards in NY in a black lacy dress, with a skirt flaring out from a split at the front to reveal the legs that have powered her to success on the court. Sports Illustrated said this was a first in the 40-year history of the WTA rankings.

“It had been over 30 years since the last time SI had recognised a woman for being Sportsperson of the Year”. Her dominant season earned her Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year honors, and she was feted Tuesday night at a banquet in Manhattan.

“I’ve had people look down on me because I don’t look like them”.

On the cover of the magazine she is pictured lounging on a golden throne in a black leotard and high heels. She also becomes the first African American female athlete to win the award.

Selena herself was pleased with the image, telling Reuters: “The cover I thought was really unbelievable…”