Women-and-Sport-Repucom

23Most MarketableDate of Birth: 17 June 1980Birthplace: Lynwood, California, USAVenus Williams is the most marketable female athlete in the US.She became the fi rst African-American women’s world tennisnumber one in February 2002 and took the women’s gameto new heights with more power and athleticism. Althoughwith 43 singles titles, 19 doubles titles and four Olympic goldmedals, Venus is less successful than her younger sister, she ismore popular than Serena in the US and recognised by nearly90 per cent of all Americans. Venus wears her own brand“Eleven by Venus” at tournaments and her racquet sponsoris Wilson. She has nearly two million fans on Facebook and isapproaching 1.2 million followers on Twitter.DBI SCORE 80.66VENUS WILLIAMSTENNISeuropeDate of Birth: 9 October 1986Birthplace: Rhône, FranceDBI SCORE 83.32LAURE MANAUDOUSWIMMINGFrench Olympic, World and European Champion swimmingsensation Laure Manadou enjoyed a successful career winningthree medals at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games including agold medal in the women’s 400-metre freestyle, France’s fi rstgold medal in the history of women’s swimming. The 28-yearold went from the pool to motherhood in 2010 and welcomeddaughter Manon. With a colossal 96.6 per cent of awarenessin France, Laure is a French icon and has sponsorship dealswith Rebok and local French sponsors mondial piscine, envidoand Topsec.Date of Birth: 14 June 1969Birthplace: Mannheim, GermanyDespite retiring over 16 years ago, Steffi Graf is the mostmarketable female athlete in Germany. With 22 Grand Slamsingles titles, she holds the all-time record for most Major winsby a tennis player, male or female, since 1968. In 1988 Grafbecame the fi rst and only tennis player to achieve the GoldenSlam by winning all four Grand Slam singles titles. An Olympicgold medal for Germany completed a tremendous year.She retired in 1999 and married fellow tennis legend AndreAgassi two years later. They reside in Las Vegas with their twochildren. With an enormous 98.41 per cent of people knowingGraf in Germany, the 45-year old attracts endorsement dealswith brands including adidas, Longines, Mrs Sporty, Nintendoand Teekanne.DBI SCORE 86.45STEFFI GRAFTENNISInsights by Repucom