Billie Jean King to receive Congressional Gold Medal for her contributions to tennis and equality

With this medal, Billie Jean King will become the first individual female athlete to get honored with the U.S. Civilian Award.

Billie Jean King to receive Congressional Gold Medal for her contributions to tennis and equality

Billie Jean King (Image via Imago)

WTA legend Billie Jean King did not only fight for points on the tennis court, but she fought for equality and many more things outside it. She earned the respect of everyone when she played and won against Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes match. 50 years later, the 80-year-old is set to receive an ultimate honor for her fight for equality and contribution to tennis in general.

Although King never won Olympic gold, she’s now set to receive a Congressional Gold Medal, one of the nation’s highest civilian honors. On Tuesday, U.S. Representatives Mikie Sherrill and Brian Fitzpatrick announced their bipartisan legislation passed through the House.

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The bill to honor King, the tennis Hall of Famer and activist, had already passed unanimously in the Senate and will be now sent to President Joe Biden for his signature. With this, the WTA legend will become the first individual female athlete to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

With this bill getting signed into law, we are cementing Billie Jean's legacy as both a champion of tennis and equality whose impact will continue to inspire and empower future generations.
Rep. Brian Fritzpatrick said in a press release

Sherill, meanwhile, hailed King for changing the landscape for women in the United States. 

Billie Jean King’s lifetime of advocacy and hard work changed the landscape for women and girls on the court, in the classroom, and the workplace. That’s why it has been an absolute honor to help lead the bipartisan effort to add another ‘first’ to Billie Jean’s resume of trailblazing accomplishments.
Rep. Mikie Sherill said

This Gold Medal, awarded by Congress for distinguished achievements and contributions to society, has previously been given to athletes including baseball players Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente, and golfers Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson, and Arnold Palmer.

Billie Jean King now holds both joint highest civilian awards

After getting this Congressional Gold Medal, Billie Jean King will become one of the few people to hold both of their nation’s joint highest civilian awards. King has already been honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 by then-President Barack Obama.

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Billie Jean King was awarded with Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama (Images via US Open, X)
We honor what she calls 'all the off-the-court stuff' -- what she did to broaden the reach of the game, to change how women athletes and women everywhere view themselves, and to give everyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation -- including my two daughters -- a chance to compete both on the court and in life.
Barack Obama had said about Billie Jean King back then. (H/T: Washington Post)

Notably, King was among 16 people nominated for the highest civilian honor that year. This list included Stephen Hawking and Edward Kennedy. She was chosen for her contributions to the sport off the court. King was also hailed for becoming one of the first openly lesbian major sports figures in America when she came out in 1981.