.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean King are going to end up being the 1st specific ladies's athlete to be granted 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 actually sent out to President Joe Biden for his signature.The bill to honor King, the tennis Hallway of Famer and activist, had actually passed all in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, pointed out in a claim that King's "lifetime of advocacy as well as effort modified the yard for girls as well as girls on the courtroom, in the class, and also the work environment." The expense was actually offered in September 2023 on the 50th wedding anniversary of King's triumph over Bobby Riggs in the "Fight of the Sexes," still the most-watched tennis match of all time. The medal, granted through Our lawmakers for notable accomplishments as well as additions to society, has actually earlier been actually offered to athletes, featuring pitcher Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente as well as golf enthusiasts Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer.King had actually presently been granted the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican politician, says she possesses "busted barricades, led unexplored courses, and influenced many individuals to stand happily along with guts as well as conviction in the defend what is right.".