WASHINGTON — Billie Jean King will become the first individual female athlete to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.
Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey announced Tuesday that their bipartisan legislation had passed the House of Representatives and would be sent to President Joe Biden for his signature.
The bill to honor King, the tennis Hall of Famer and activist from Long Beach, had already passed unanimously in the Senate.
Sherrill, a Democrat, said in a statement that King’s “lifetime of advocacy and hard work changed the landscape for women and girls on the court, in the classroom, and the workplace.”
The bill was introduced last September on the 50th anniversary of King’s victory over Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes,” still the most-watched tennis match of all-time. The 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.
King had already been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, says she has “broken barriers, led uncharted paths, and inspired countless people to stand proudly with courage and conviction in the fight for what is right.”
U.S. Open: Coco Gauff, Novak Djokovic begin title defenses with easy wins
Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray could be bidding adieu to tennis at the Paris Olympics
Related Posts:
- Only Erling Haaland & Mohamed Salah have earned more points than Jean-Philippe Mateta among Dream Team forwards Sports ONLY Erling Haaland (£9.1m) has scored more goals than Jean-Philippe Mateta (£3.3m) this season. Manchester City’s No9 is in a league of his own having raced to NINE in the blink of an eye but the Crystal Palace striker leads the chasing pack with four. Dream TeamPicking up where he…
- I gave my baby away to gun-toting cult run by ‘King Bullet Head’ who brandishes a gold-plated AK47 – I have no regrets News IT IS the gun-toting church whose leader is so controversial he’s earned the nickname King Bullet Head. At the Rod of Iron Ministries, couples parade with AK rifles, and their rap-loving leader, Pastor Hyung Jin Sean Moon, wields a gold-plated version, while sporting a crown of bullets. UKTV/MindHouseThe Pastor and…
- Deadline set to make Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury fight as Eddie Hearn admits clock ticking on biggest fight in history Sports ANTHONY JOSHUA must fight Tyson Fury by the end of 2025. That’s the deadline set by AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn. Anthony Joshua should fight Tyson Fury by the end of next year AJ’s defeats in recent years made his prospect of fighting Fury weaken Eddie Hearn will do everything in…
- King Charles’ Former Staff Member Calls for Peace Talks Between Charles and Harry — But Others Warn the King of Its Dangers Entertainment <p id="par-1_40">Prince Harry and his father, <a href="https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/king-charles/">King Charles</a>, have certainly had a tumultuous relationship in recent years. Ultimately, there is still love there, but it seems that Harry and Charles just can’t get to a point where <a href="https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/prince-harry-says-open-reconciling-king-charles-monarch-meets-1-demand.html/">they can fully reconcile</a>.</p> <p id="par-2_43">Now, some royal experts are calling…
- Brits’ favourite history periods revealed – does yours make the list? News Soldiers on horses riding with flags in hand. (National Geographic) FOUR in 10 Brits consider themselves a history buff – with the Second World War and Roman Britain among the most ‘interesting’ periods in time. Research of 2,000 adults revealed Queen Victoria’s 63-year reign from 1837 to 1901 and the…
(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)