June 17th ephemeris: Happy birthday to Venus Williams!

Born on June 17, 1980 in the city of Lynwood in the United States, the famous tennis player Venus Williams celebrates her 45th birthday today.

It was thanks to her father, Richard Williams, that she began playing tennis alongside her sister Serena at the age of 4. In 1990, the family moved to West Palm Beach, and subsequently, the two sisters joined Rick Macci's academy. The coach noticed in them something similar to "rage, an inner fire, they could take anything. They would run after every ball, their noses close to the ground, it was completely crazy."

Venus Williams began her career in 1994 and competed in her first professional tournaments. Three years later, on September 7, 1997, at the age of 17, she reached her first Grand Slam final at the US Open, facing Swiss player Martina Hingis. However, she did not win the match. Throughout her career, Venus Williams established herself as one of the greatest tennis players in the world, boasting an impressive list of five Olympic medals and 23 Grand Slam titles.

In 2021, on the front page of “Sud Ouest”

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Saint Hervé , abbot in Brittany, died in 568. Born into a family of bards, blind, guided by a wolf, he lived as a pilgrim and then founded the monastery of Lanhouarneau. The Hervés are strong-willed and emotional. Their color: blue. Their number: 4.

Today's saying: "Sun on Saint Hervé's Day, heralds a beautiful summer."

It happened on June 17th

1939 The last public execution in France. 1953 A historic popular uprising breaks out in East Berlin. 1967 China announces it has detonated its first hydrogen bomb. 1972 The Watergate scandal begins.

1991 The South African Parliament abolishes the last pillar of apartheid. 1992 Birth of Cristal Production (producer of the Francofolies). 2012 Death of Rodney King, American citizen victim of police violence in 1991. The acquittal of the police officers during a first trial triggered the 1992 riots in Los Angeles. 2015 Shooting in Charleston, South Carolina: an attack during which a young follower of white supremacy opened fire in a church, killing 9. 2018 Return of the Hermione to Rochefort after its Mediterranean voyage . 2022 Death of the French actor, director and racing driver Jean-Louis Trintignant.

Dean Martin, American actor and singer (1917-1995). Eddy Merckx, Belgian cyclist (1945). Marc Jolivet, French actor (1950). Fabienne Thibeault, Canadian singer (1952). Lio, Portuguese-Belgian singer (1962). Isabelle Delobel, French figure skater (1978).