Nineteen-year-old Coco Gauff has been named to TIME’s annual Women of the Year list, a prestigious honor recognizing exceptional leaders striving for a more equitable world. The reigning US Open champion is not only the youngest woman on this esteemed list but also the only athlete, a testament to her impactful activism and advocacy.
Born into a family with a strong history of activism, Gauff’s perspective has been shaped by her grandmother, who was the first Black student at her high school in Delray Beach, Florida, back in 1961. “My goal is to tell my grandkids that I was on the right side of history,” the young tennis player boldly points out.
Following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, Gauff took to social media to express her outrage and participated in a protest, using her platform to amplify the voices of those fighting against injustice. Her commitment to activism is deeply personal, as she stated, “It was to the point where I was crying about it, because I felt like I had to say something.” Addressing the crowd in Delray Beach, she said: “If you are choosing silence, you’re choosing the side of the oppressor.”
The young athlete emphasizes that while she has her own thoughts and opinions, her status as a prominent public figure adds an additional…
