Serena Williams Is Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year

The Hollywood Reporter announces that Serena Williams has been named Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year. This is the first time since 1983 that a woman held this honor on her own (back then, it was runner Mary Decker). Editor Paul Fichtenbaum is quoted as follows:

"She was the most deserving person for the award. She had an amazing year. The way she won her events; the fact that she's done this for so many years at such a high level. She was a terrific candidate in a year of terrific candidates."

On changing the name of the annual award to Sportsperson of the Year:

"We just felt this was a natural evolution. ... We're not making a huge deal out of it. It just feels like the right time to make the change. Men's sports has dominated until recently, when women's sports has grown in popularity, and the competition is better than ever. There's more of a focus on women's sports now. It's grown considerably. Specifically why? I'm not sure."

And the 2015 @sportsillustrated Sportsperson of the Year... Is @serenawilliams. Congratulations! Beautiful cover of an amazing athlete. Photograph by @yutsai88 for Sports Illustrated

A photo posted by Sports Illustrated (@sportsillustrated) on Dec 14, 2015 at 7:04am PST