Venus Williams Announced As One Of Nine Sports Stars Being Immortalised By Barbie
Tennis star Venus Williams and Australian Manchester City striker Mary Fowler are among nine athletes honoured with Barbie dolls in their likeness as part of Mattel's celebration of Barbie's 65th anniversary ahead of the Paris Olympics. The release of the dolls aims to promote self-confidence, ambition and empowerment among young people by encouraging children to participate in team sports.
The dolls, unveiled on Wednesday, come with accessories that reflect each athlete’s sport. Williams' doll wears a white tennis dress, visor, and earrings, complete with a miniature racket, while Fowler's doll sports gloves, football boots, and holds a football.
Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, expressed her hope that the doll will inspire young girls to pursue sports. "I literally can’t imagine my life without sports and without the game," Williams said in a video. She emphasised the invaluable lessons sports teach, not just in the moment but for life. No details have been given about any plans for a doll for her sister, Serena.
Fowler, who plays for Manchester City and the Australian national team, also shared her thoughts, saying sports have been crucial in shaping her sense of self. "The advice I like to give to aspiring athletes is to not be afraid of making mistakes," she said.
Athletes being honoured with a Barbie doll in their likeness in the new release:
Alexa Moreno - Gymnast (Mexico)
Alexa Moreno, recognised by Forbes Mexico as one of the 100 most powerful women in Mexico, she is Mexico’s first female world medalist in gymnastics.
Christine Sinclair - Soccer Player (Canada)
With 190 international goals to her name, Christine Sinclair is the most successful Canadian soccer player of all time.
Estelle Mossely - Boxer (France)
Gold medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Estelle Mossely has 11 wins and 1 draw under her belt in her professional boxing career since her pro boxing debut in 2018, and 85 wins in her amateur career.
Ewa Swoboda - Track and Field Sprinter (Poland)
Three-time European Indoor Championship medalist and World Indoor Championship medalist, Ewa Swoboda holds the Polish record of 6.98 seconds in the 60-meter race.
Federica Pellegrini - Swimmer (Italy)
Federica Pellegrini is a former swimmer and Olympic gold medalist, and was the first woman to break 4:00 in the 400m freestyle. She was elated to the IOC Athletes Commission after her last competition in 2020.
Mary Fowler - Football Player (Australia)
Player for UK team Manchester City and the Australian National Team, the Matildas, she became the youngest player on the national team when she was selected for the FIFA World Cup in 2019 at 16 years old. She has participated in two FIFA World Cups and the last Olympic Games.
Rebeca Andrade - Gymnast (Brazil)
Two-time World Championship winner and Olympic gold and silver medalist, Rebecca Andrade has won more than ten World Cup medals. She is regarded as one of the best gymnasts of all time.
Susana Rodriguez - Paratriathlon Athlete (Spain)
Born with Albinism, Susana Roriguez has set paratriathlon athlete records and was a young doctor on the front lines during the pandemic, earning her the cover of TIME magazine in 2021.
Venus Williams - Tennis Player (United States)
Venus Williams is one of the most decorated Olympic athletes with four gold medals to her name. She is also the first woman in tennis to earn equal prize money at Wimbledon.
Krista Berger, Senior Vice President of Barbie and Mattel’s Global Head of Dolls, highlighted the significance of these dolls in a statement. "By shining a light on these inspirational athletes and their stories, we hope to champion the belief that every young girl deserves the opportunity to pursue her passions and turn her dreams into reality."
The new dolls are the latest release from Mattel following the release of dolls of Queen Camilla, Kylie Minogue, Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, and Helen Mirren earlier this year.
