President Joe Biden signed legislation awarding tennis legend Billie Jean King the Congressional Gold Medal, making her the first individual female athlete to receive this honor.
The bill (S. 2861) was introduced in March 2023 by Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) to recognize King’s lifelong dedication to equal rights in sports and society. It passed unanimously in the Senate in May, led by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), and was approved by the House of Representatives earlier this month.
Before King, 11 male athletes and the 1980 U.S. Olympic team had received the Congressional Gold Medal. The bill’s introduction coincided with the 50th anniversary of equal prize money at the US Open, a milestone King championed in 1973. That year, the US Open became the first sporting event to offer equal prize money for men and women, paying $25,000 to both singles champions.
Dr. Brian Hainline, Chairman of the Board and President of the USTA, praised the recognition of King’s achievements, stating that her impact extends beyond her athletic performance to her tireless work for equality.
Billie Jean King led the fight for equal prize money after winning the 1972 US Open women’s singles title, boldly insisting that men and women should receive equal pay at the following year’s tournament. Her demand sparked a transformative year in tennis, marked by the creation of the Women’s Tennis Association. In 1973, the US Open became the first major event to offer equal prize money, and King further solidified her impact by defeating Bobby Riggs in the historic “Battle of the Sexes” at the Houston Astrodome. That iconic match, which remains the most-watched in tennis history, helped propel the women’s rights movement in both sports and society.
