.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean King will come to be the first personal women's athlete to be rewarded the Legislative Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania as well as Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey introduced Tuesday that their bipartisan legislation had actually passed your home of Reps and also will be actually sent out to President Joe Biden for his signature.The bill to recognize Master, the tennis Hallway of Famer and also activist, had actually passed with one voice in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, claimed in a statement that King's "lifetime of campaigning for and also hard work altered the yard for girls and women on the courthouse, in the classroom, and also the place of work." The expense was launched in September 2023 on the 50th anniversary of King's success over Bobby Riggs in the "Fight of the Sexual activities," still the most-watched ping pong suit of all time. The medal, granted through Our lawmakers for distinguished accomplishments and also payments to society, has actually earlier been actually offered to professional athletes, including pitcher Jackie Robinson as well as Roberto Clemente and also golf enthusiasts Port Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer.King had currently been granted the Presidential Medal of Flexibility in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, states she possesses "busted obstacles, led uncharted courses, and also influenced many folks to stand happily with guts and also conviction in the fight for what corrects.".