Why Serena Williams Is the Greatest Athlete of All Time

Let's get the numbers out of the way on Serena Williams' tennis career: Over her 21-year professional life, her winning percentage in singles AND doubles is 85%. In mixed doubles, it's 87%. No matter who you are, no matter how high your ranking, if you step on the court and Serena is on the other side of the net, it's very, very, very, very likely you're going to lose. She has 22 Grand Slam singles titles from the biggest championships in her sport. She has 14 Grand Slam doubles titles. Six of those singles titles and two in doubles have come at the U.S. Open in New York, which starts Aug. 29.

But these numbers -- as impressive as they are to the case that Serena, 34, is the greatest athlete of all time -- aren't really the most compelling evidence.

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Here is what pushes her to the top: Muhammad Ali, like Serena, competed at an inflection point in American history, and was also a person of color with a deep faith that wasn't understood by many of his countrymen. But Ali was a man, and therefore didn't have to put up with the endless commentary -- from both the mainstream media and fringe cranks -- on his physique and overt critiques of how it subverts gender expectations. It is Serena's ability to rise above the critical gaze that all women face that sets her apart. No other athlete has put up with this amount of sh*tty bodyshaming and persevered with such success and grace.