Venus Williams Honors Scientific Achievement at Breakthrough Prize Ceremony
Before gracing the red carpet for the Los Angeles premiere of “Challengers,” a tennis-themed movie, Venus Williams took to the stage to celebrate scientific excellence. The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion joined an illustrious group of celebrities, including Bradley Cooper, Robert Downey Jr., Kim Kardashian, and Alicia Keys, as presenters at the 10th annual Breakthrough Prize ceremony. This prestigious event recognizes the groundbreaking research achievements of the world’s leading scientists in life sciences, physics, and mathematics.
Williams described the opportunity to present as “the experience of a lifetime.” She expressed her awe and inspiration at the ingenuity and unwavering spirit of the award winners. “I was truly in awe of the Breakthrough Prize, and so inspired by the ingenuity and unrelenting human spirit of these award winners,” she wrote on Instagram.
Joining Williams on the red carpet was another former world No. 1, Maria Sharapova, along with other celebrities such as Vin Diesel, Orlando Bloom, Katy Perry, and Olympic skier Eileen Gu. A total of $15 million in prizes was awarded to high-achieving scientists, with 17-year-old Sia Godika from India receiving the junior prize for her research in cellular reprogramming. She was awarded a $250,000 scholarship and a $100,000 science lab for her school.
Dubbed the “Oscars of Science” by Variety, the ceremony was held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles and will air on YouTube on Saturday, April 21. The event featured musical performances from Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, David Foster, and Charlie Puth, while actor James Corden hosted the show.
