Billie Jean King Makes History as First Solo Female Athlete to Receive Congressional Gold Medal

Former world No. 1 tennis player Billie Jean King is the first individual female athlete to receive the Congressional Gold Medal.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by United States House of Representatives members Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey.

A bill to award King with the medal was introduced by the aforementioned representatives in September of 2023, with the Senate then passing it unanimously. On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed it unanimously. This came right around the 50th anniversary of "Battle of the Sexes", a match King took part in in which she defeated world-champion Bobby Riggs. At the Houston Astrodome, King managed to beat Riggs 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, in front of a live audience of over 30,000 fans. Millions more watched the televised match from home.

The bill is currently awaiting the officiating signature of President Joe Biden.

King has long represented gender equality in sports. As the first union president of the Women's Tennis Association, King fought to secure better pay for female tennis players.

She previously received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2009.