Billie Jean King To Receive American Congressional Gold Medal | The Sporting Base
[google-translator]

Billie Jean King to receive American Congressional Gold Medal

September 19, 2024

Billie Jean King to receive American Congressional Gold Medal Billie Jean King (Gage Skidmore, USA Today)

According to the Associated Press on Tuesday, tennis icon Billie Jean King of Long Beach, California is receiving a congressional gold medal. It is considered the highest civilian honour recognized by the American Congress. It was first awarded in 1776, and throughout history 184 people have received the award.

King is the first female athlete to receive the honour since 1980 and the first tennis player. Throughout American history, 11 male athletes have been recognized. They are golfers Jack Nicklaus of Columbus, Ohio, Byron Nelson of Waxahachie, Texas, and Arnold Palmer of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, boxer Joe Louis of LaFayette, Alabama, baseball players Jackie Robinson of Cairo, Georgia, Larry Doby of Carden, South Carolina, and Puerto Rican Roberto Clemente, Canadian hockey player Willie O’Ree, NFL player Steve Gleason of Spokane, Washington, sprinter Jesse Owens of Oakville, Alabama, and cyclist Greg LeMond of Lakewood, California.

In 1980, American athletes who qualified for the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow also received a congressional gold medal. However the fact that these athletes did not have an opportunity to win an Olympic gold medal was devastating as the American government shattered the Olympic dreams of many athletes by their insensitive decision to boycott the Olympic Games due to the Russian invasion of Afghanistan.

King was a 12-time grand slam singles champion. She won six Wimbledons (1966, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1973 and 1975), four United States Opens (1967, 1971, 1972, and 1974), the 1968 Australian  Open, and 1972 French Open. King is also being recognized for her philanthropy endeavours which include her fight for gender equality, and being an advocate for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community (where she won the Presidential Medal of Freedom). In 2020, the Fed Cup was renamed the Billie Jean King Cup, and the Los Angeles Dodgers, who King is a part owner of, won the World Series.


Fill In The Form Below To Receive Our Tennis News Straight To Your Email For FREE!

 

 

Tell Us What You Think Below

April 15, 2026

Doc Rivers resigns as Bucks head coach

According to the Associated Press on Monday, Doc Rivers of Chicago, Illinois has resigned as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks The resignation should come as zero surprise because the Bucks have Read More

April 15, 2026

Former MLB manager and infielder Phil Garner dies at age 76

According to Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors on Sunday, former Major League Baseball manager and infielder Phil Garner of Jefferson City, Tennessee passed away at the age of 76 due to pancreatic Read More

April 15, 2026

Opinion: The Athletics's Max Muncy is better than the Dodgers's Max Muncy

One of the craziest storylines in Major League Baseball is the fact that there are two players in the game with the exact same name They also play in the same state and they are both third basemen Read More