Coco Gauff's 2024 TIME Women of the Year Toast

TIME

Gauff dedicated her award to the monumental figures in her life, naming tennis players Venus and Serena Williams, former First Lady Michelle Obama, and her grandmother, who she says was the first Black woman to integrate the Delray Beach school system in Florida, as inspirations.

Transcript

00:00 Good evening.

00:01 Being here tonight and standing in front of all of you

00:03 is an incredible honor.

00:05 The women in this room are my role models.

00:08 And for me to be asked to share a few words with you,

00:12 that's crazy.

00:14 Seriously.

00:16 When I started playing tennis at the age of six,

00:18 my dad, who's here with me tonight,

00:21 told me you can change the world with your racket.

00:24 And I believed him.

00:25 I believed him because the woman in my life

00:27 and the women in this room who showed me

00:30 that a little girl with big dreams

00:31 can go on to do great things.

00:34 My grandmother, Yvonne, was the first black woman

00:37 to integrate the Delray Beach school system,

00:39 has encouraged me to use my platform for positive change

00:42 and to never underestimate the impact of my voice.

00:46 Venus and Serena Williams, who--

00:49 Venus and Serena Williams, who through their resilience,

00:51 passion, and greatness paved the way for athletes like me

00:55 to dream big and chase those dreams.

00:57 Michelle Obama, the epitome of grace, strength,

01:00 and empowerment, taught me that it's OK to say no

01:03 and to be thoughtful about how and where I focus my impact.

01:07 And the list goes on and on and on.

01:09 Tennis has provided me with an opportunity

01:12 to pass that belief onto young girls who see themselves in me.

01:15 Each and every day, I get the chance

01:17 to connect with the next generation

01:19 of influential women.

01:20 Girls who came up to me at tournaments

01:22 or reach out on social media, girls

01:24 who are confident and fearless, girls

01:26 who are proud to celebrate who they are,

01:28 embrace our identity, and stay true to themselves.

01:31 Last December, I was given the honor

01:33 of being the Grand Marshal of the Delray Beach Holiday Parade.

01:37 And riding through that parade, it

01:38 hit me that 63 years ago, my grandmother

01:41 had to fight for girls like me to even have fair education.

01:44 And now, generations later, I'm able to make my own impact

01:49 on that same city, but only because

01:51 of what she accomplished.

01:55 Waving to the young girls in tennis,

01:57 knowing that my presence and influence of what

01:59 they see in their own lives is incredibly meaningful.

02:02 And yet, I turn 20.

02:04 And in just about a week, I'm still a teenager.

02:06 I'm still learning to use my voice.

02:08 And I'm still being inspired by all the great women around me

02:11 and the spotlight on empowering women

02:14 and supporting each other.

02:15 Our impact is strongest when we work together.

02:19 Thank you for inspiring me.

02:20 Thank you for believing in me.

02:21 And thank you for showing me that the sky is the limit.

02:24 And no matter our age, let's continue to dream big together.

02:27 Thank you.

02:27 [APPLAUSE]

Category

Transcript

Recommended