Serena Williams was blessed with one of the most athletic bodies ever. Growing up, however, she felt anything but blessed.
The Huffington Post reported that the 20-time Grand Slam champion struggled with her Herculean figure as a teen. A big part of her uneasiness was comparing herself to older sister Venus.
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"It wasn't very easy -- growing up," Williams told The Huffington Post in an interview. "Venus was like a model. I was thicker."
Serena's physique had made her feel like an outcast, she said. Whether her fears were magnified as Venus started to have success on the tennis court is unknown.
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"Most women athletes are pretty thin. I didn't really know how to deal with it. I had to come to terms -- as every teen and young adult does -- with loving myself," Williams said. "I had to find different role models. But my body type is in style now, so I'm loving it!"
Her physique has helped her become the undisputed No. 1 women's tennis player today and has given her much ammunition in her case as the top women's tennis player of all time. Her 20 Grand Slam victories are two shy of Steffi Graf's modern-day record of 22 and four shy of Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 slams.
The 33-year-old Williams is halfway to winning all four Grand Slam events in a single year - not to mention the fact that she is just a Wimbledon title away from being the defending champion at all four slams.
Graf is the last person to complete the calendar Grand Slam in 1988.
Williams added that the foot injury she suffered in 2010 and her subsequent rehab and recovery gave her a new-found appreciation for her body.
"It gave me a new perspective on my life," she said. "I realized there are so many things that are so important. I don't know if I needed that -- but I feel like maybe I did. And because of it, I'm able to have a better career and appreciate my wins more."
Does Serena Williams' struggles to accept her physique growing up make her more sympathetic? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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