The Congressional Gold Medal was granted to Billie Jean King by the United States Tennis Association on Friday. She was the first individual female athlete to receive this honor. President Joe Biden signed the legislation into law on Thursday, honoring King’s ground-breaking accomplishments on and off the court.
King has long been a pioneer in the fields of gender equality in society and athletics. Due to the 80-year-old’s unwavering support for equal pay in tennis, the US Open became the first Grand Slam competition to award equal prize money to men and women in 1973, solidifying her reputation as a champion for women’s rights. Also read: Billie Jean King Cup Finals Prize Money Rises To $9.6 Million, ITF Says
King’s victory over Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes” match the same year marked a turning point for the women’s movement and tennis.
Brian Hainline, chairman and president of the USTA, stated, “Billie is one of the greatest athletes and ambassadors tennis has ever seen, but her impact off the court is even greater than her performance on it.” “She has broken yet another barrier with this award.” Also read: Approaching 80, Billie Jean King is still globetrotting for investment in women’s sports
In singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, King won 39 Grand Slam titles. Her contribution to the Women’s Tennis Association’s formation was significant. King is one of the few athletes who has been awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. The 1980 U.S. Olympic team and eleven individual competitors had won the Congressional Gold Medal, but prior to King, they had all been men.