Venus Williams To Endorse Reebok

Thursday, December 21st 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) â€”Venus Williams, who won two Grand Slam singles titles and two Olympic gold medals this year, got a new crown Thursday, signing what's believed to be a record $40 million endorsement deal.

Terms of the deal with Reebok International weren't disclosed, but a company spokesman wouldn't deny published reports that Williams would get $40 million over five years, apparently the richest such contract for any woman athlete.

``If the reports were far off base, I'd be jumping up and down and would let you know that,'' said Angel Martinez, chief marketing officer for Reebok.

Williams, 20, had a streak of 35 tennis tournament victories during the year and won both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, plus Olympic gold medals in singles and doubles.

``This is a big moment in my life,'' said Williams, whose previous endorsement contract with Reebok ended in April. ``This is another part of reaching out for my dreams.''

Williams' younger sister, Serena, has an endorsement deal with Puma.

Tiger Woods recently signed the most lucrative endorsement deal in sports, a five-year, $100 million agreement with Nike. In 2001, he'll make about $54 million from endorsements with 12 companies.