.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean King will certainly come to be the very first personal women's athlete to become awarded the Legislative Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania as well as Mikie Sherrill of New Jacket revealed Tuesday that their bipartisan laws had actually passed our home of Representatives as well as would certainly be sent to President Joe Biden for his signature.The costs to recognize Master, the ping pong Hallway of Famer as well as activist, had actually already passed all in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, stated in a statement that Master's "lifetime of advocacy as well as effort modified the landscape for ladies and also women on the courtroom, in the classroom, as well as the workplace." The expense was actually presented in September 2023 on the 50th wedding anniversary of King's victory over Bobby Riggs in the "Fight of the Sexual activities," still the most-watched tennis suit of perpetuity. The award, granted by Congress for prominent achievements as well as additions to society, has actually formerly been actually offered to professional athletes, including baseball players Jackie Robinson as well as Roberto Clemente and also golfers Port Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer.King had actually presently been actually granted the Governmental Medal of Freedom in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican politician, states she possesses "faulty barriers, led unexplored roads, and motivated plenty of people to stand up happily along with courage and view in the defend what corrects.".