Serena Williams
Serena Williams of USA during Day 8 of the 2018 French Open at Roland Garros stadium on June 3, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

Tennis superstar Serena Williams is ecstatic over being the second African American woman to grace the Wheaties cereal box cover.

Williams, who currently holds the record for most Grand Slam tournament wins in the Open Era for both women and men, shared her enthusiasm this week in an Instagram post.

“I am so excited to be on the cover of the next Wheaties box,” Williams, 37, wrote. “Althea Gibson was the FIRST Black Woman tennis player to be on the box. I am honored to be the second.”

Williams added in a press statement that, “I have dreamt of this since I was a young woman and it’s an honor to join the ranks of some of America’s most decorated athletes.”

Since 1934, General Mills has been celebrating extraordinary athletes under its “The Breakfast of Champions” slogan.

The company honored Gibson – one of Williams’ well-known influences — on its cereal box in 2001. Other past honorees include Michael Jordan, Caitlyn Jenner and Mary Lou Retton.

This correspondent is a guest contributor to The Washington Informer.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *