In 1990, Life magazine even named her to its list of the "100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century." She was one of only four athletes and the only female athlete to make the list. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987.Ī prominent advocate for gay and women's rights, King has also been named Time magazine's Person of the Year and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 1 ranked female tennis player in the world. For a number of years in the 1970's, King was the No. During that time, she won 39 Grand Slam titles (12 singles, 16 women's doubles, and 11 mixed doubles). Here, she jumps to her second gold medal in the Seoul Olympic women's long jump final, September 19, 1988, setting a new Olympic record at 7.40.īy CBS News Staff Writer Christina CapatidesĪmerican tennis player Billie Jean King competed professionally from 1959 to 1983. When all was said and done, Joyner-Kersee earned an astounding three gold, one silver, and two bronze medals. She competed in four Olympic Games for the United States from 1984 to 1996, earning medals in both the women's heptathlon and the women's long jump. Jackie Joyner-Kersee is often referred to as the First Lady of American athletics. This is a list of those extraordinary women. So, when female athletes arise who not only challenge, but shatter stereotypes of what women can do, they captivate the entire world. What's more, female athletes often come of age discouraged by the prevalence of sexist phrases like "play like a girl," and the awareness that most people in the sports world somehow expect less of them.
Despite the fact that Title IX ensures female athletes receive the same opportunities as their male counterparts, there are still major discrepancies in pay, facilities and exposure.
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