Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King was not only a champion in women's sports but also dominated in international tennis.
Although her life in competitive tennis came with many celebrations, her greatest accomplishment came on September 20, 1973, at the Houston Astrodome. It was on that day that her and Bobby Riggs, famous for mocking women's sports, faced on in what the media called "Battle of the Sexes." Forty million people tuned in to watch King slam Riggs in three straight sets. Later she told Newsweek, "I just had to play . . . Title IX [the ban on gender discrimination in federally funded educational programs] had just passed, and I . . . wanted to change the hearts and minds of people to match the legislation." King was the first female layer to win more than $100,000 in a season; however, the male players were making three times as much. Struck with anger from injustice, she and other top women players called for a boycott. The boycott led to the start of the first tennis tour for women. King helped found WomenSports magazine and the Women's Sports Foundation. After leaving tennis in 1983, she continued to advocate for gender equity.
Billie Jean King was not only a champion in women's sports but also dominated in international tennis.
Although her life in competitive tennis came with many celebrations, her greatest accomplishment came on September 20, 1973, at the Houston Astrodome. It was on that day that her and Bobby Riggs, famous for mocking women's sports, faced on in what the media called "Battle of the Sexes." Forty million people tuned in to watch King slam Riggs in three straight sets. Later she told Newsweek, "I just had to play . . . Title IX [the ban on gender discrimination in federally funded educational programs] had just passed, and I . . . wanted to change the hearts and minds of people to match the legislation." King was the first female layer to win more than $100,000 in a season; however, the male players were making three times as much. Struck with anger from injustice, she and other top women players called for a boycott. The boycott led to the start of the first tennis tour for women. King helped found WomenSports magazine and the Women's Sports Foundation. After leaving tennis in 1983, she continued to advocate for gender equity.
Donna de Varona
Donna de Varona was a very prominent face in the worlds of both swimming and women's rights. At 14 years of age, Donna de Varona was the youngest swimmer to compete at the 1960 Summer Olympics. From this time on, Donna went on achieving many accomplishments in women's swimming and by 1965 she had broken 18 world records, collected 37 national titles, and became the first female sportscaster in the United States and the first woman to cover the Olympics for television. Although prior to her professional career in sports casting, de Varona had tried to obtain a swimming scholarship to attend college. Despite her Olympic medals, de Varona was unable to secure scholarships, because they did not exist for women during that time. As a result of that experience, de Varona became a passionate advocate for women in sports during her tenure as a sportscaster, and worked assiduously for the passage of Title IX of the Equal Education Amendment Act of 1972. From 1976 to 1978 she was a consultant to the U.S. Senate during the preparation of the Amateur Sports Act, which aimed to give women and minorities greater and better access to training facilities and money. She also co-founded the Women's Sports Foundation in 1974, and served as the organization's first president from 1979 to 1984. She is quoted saying, "We have had to fight for our protections,
and we still do."
Donna de Varona was a very prominent face in the worlds of both swimming and women's rights. At 14 years of age, Donna de Varona was the youngest swimmer to compete at the 1960 Summer Olympics. From this time on, Donna went on achieving many accomplishments in women's swimming and by 1965 she had broken 18 world records, collected 37 national titles, and became the first female sportscaster in the United States and the first woman to cover the Olympics for television. Although prior to her professional career in sports casting, de Varona had tried to obtain a swimming scholarship to attend college. Despite her Olympic medals, de Varona was unable to secure scholarships, because they did not exist for women during that time. As a result of that experience, de Varona became a passionate advocate for women in sports during her tenure as a sportscaster, and worked assiduously for the passage of Title IX of the Equal Education Amendment Act of 1972. From 1976 to 1978 she was a consultant to the U.S. Senate during the preparation of the Amateur Sports Act, which aimed to give women and minorities greater and better access to training facilities and money. She also co-founded the Women's Sports Foundation in 1974, and served as the organization's first president from 1979 to 1984. She is quoted saying, "We have had to fight for our protections,
and we still do."