Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King, a sports and civilian heroine

Billie Jean King was an American tennis player from 1968 to 1989. I admire this woman because she is a great sportswoman who has benefited from her notoriety to defend the great cause that is gender equality.

Childhood

Billie Jean King was born on November 22, 1943 in Long Beach, California (USA). During her childhood, she played baseball and softball. At the age of 10, she was training with girls who were four or five years older than her.

One day, Billie confessed to her parents that she wanted to play a sport where she could be considered a "lady." Her father told her about tennis, a sport she didn't know. Knowing that she was versatile, her parents suggested to Billie she buy her own racket. She started to save money in a glass jar, and after collecting eight dollars, she bought her first racket.

Career

Billie Jean King won twelve Grand Slam tournaments, a remarkable performance. She also played in the Australian Open on just five occasions, and just seven times in Roland-Garros.

She is one of only ten players to have won each of the four Grand Slam singles titles. In doubles, she had 27 titles of the Grand Slam (sixteen in double ladies, eleven in mixed doubles). Of all the sports combined, she is the first female athlete to have won more than $100,000 in a single season (in 1971).

Defending women's rights

I considered Billie a hero because of her athletic performances, but also because of her commitment in the defense of women's rights.

During her career, she used her notoriety to defend women's rights, and her participation in the 1973 Battle of the Sexes is part of this logic. She also helped found the Women's Tennis Association and the Women's Sports Foundation. In 2009, Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her fight for women.

Movie

Billie Jean King, now 75 years old, is portrayed by Emma Stone in the biopic "Battle of The Sexes." This recounts the 1973 victory of Billie Jean King against the macho Bobby Riggs, leading to the recognition of women's place in tennis.

- Theo Gachet