--by Jacky
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Billie Jean King was awarded the very prestigous
Medal of Freedom today, August 12, by Preseident Obama in
a ceremony at the White House.
King, a pioneer in women's sports and later lesbian rights,
was one of 16 recipients of the Award, the highest civilian
honor in the United States. The President praised the recipients
for breaking down barriers and lifting up their fellow citizens:
"These outstanding men and women represent an incredible
diversity of backgrounds. Their tremendous accomplishments
span fields from science to sports, from fine arts to foreign
affairs. Yet they share one overarching trait:
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Each has been an agent of change. Each saw an imperfect world and
set about improving it, often overcoming great obstacles along the
way."
According to King's web
site, she has achieved numerous "firsts":
- First woman commissioner in professional sports history (World
TeamTennis, 1984)
- First woman to coach a co-ed team in professional sports (Philadelphia
Freedoms, WTT, 1974)
- First female athlete in any sport to earn more than $100,000
in a single season ($117,000, 1971)
- Only woman to win U.S. singles title on four surfaces (grass,
clay, carpet, hard courts)
- One of six inaugural inductees into the Court of Fame at the
USTA National Tennis Center (2003)
- First woman to have a major sports venue named in her honor
(USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center - 2006)
King won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles
titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles in her career. She
has been an advocate against sexism in sports and society. She is
known for the "The Battle of the Sexes" in 1973, in which
she defeated Bobby Riggs, a former Wimbledon men's champion.
Another notable GLBT figure, the late Harvey Milk, was also honored
with the Medal of Freedom in 2009.
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