Serena Williams, a grand slam winner 21 times over and four-time Olympic gold medallist, has posed powerfully for the cover of New York Magazine.

The photoshoot was hailed by some as her best and bravest. It came weeks after Harry Potter author JK Rowling defended the champ against an online troll who said she was “built like a man”.

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Perched on a gymnast’s bars, Ms Williams, 33, was unafraid to show off the muscles that fuelled her success.

“I didn’t think it would last this long,” she told New York Magazine.

While yet to call time on tennis, the star she hoped to eventually transition to a career in fashion. The photoshoot promoted her Serena Williams Signature Statement Spring 2015 clothing line.

Serena Williams is currently tied with Germany’s Angelique Kerber for the most wins in 2015.

@serenawilliams looks absolutely incredible in these #NormanJeanRoy photos from our cover story! Her 16-year run is, in the words of Sports Illustrated, “one of the most sustained careers of excellence in the history of athletics.” She is on top of the world, a serious contender for the greatest athlete of her generation, and is the cover star of our fall fashion issue. More on @thecut–see link in profile.

A photo posted by New York Magazine (@nymag) on Aug 10, 2015 at 12:12pm PDT