Tennis icon Serena Williams was presented Spain’s Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, a nod to a career that changed how the world watches the sport. The 23-time Grand Slam champion accepted the award in Oviedo on October 24.
The annual ceremony was hosted by Spain’s royal family. Williams’ career has been by marked sustained excellence and her influence beyond the baseline. Princess Leonor presented the prize at Teatro Campoamor, as reported by the foundation’s press release.
Williams thanked her fans and reflected on a journey that continues to shape the sport long after her last match. Coverage from the event highlighted her red Gaurav Gupta gown for the ceremony and a white Elie Saab look earlier in the day, which Williams herself shared on Instagram.
The Ceremony in Oviedo Honors a Lasting Legacy
The ceremony in northern Spain is the capstone of a week of events around Oviedo, with the royal family presiding and each laureate recognized on stage. Williams shared her gratitude on social media and noted the warmth of the welcome in Asturias.
Past recipients of the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports include Rafael Nadal, Eliud Kipchoge, Lindsey Vonn and Carl Lewis. Expectedly, this places Serena Williams in fitting company. Williams is no stranger to personal honors off the court.
Her outstanding record includes 73 singles titles and four Olympic gold medals. Oviedo also hosted dialogues with laureates from science, arts, and social causes, underscoring the prize’s civic mission. Lectures, school visits, and exhibitions turned the ceremony into a citywide celebration.
The Award Recognizes Influence Beyond Trophies
The Princess of Asturias Foundation acknowledges competitive dominance and the wider cultural lift that follows. The foundation also points to her advocacy for women in sport and her influence across generations of players and fans. In that sense, the moment in Oviedo reads as both a career salute and a signal that her voice still carries weight.
