.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean King are going to become the initial specific ladies's athlete to become rewarded the Legislative Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and also Mikie Sherrill of New Shirt revealed Tuesday that their bipartisan legislation had actually passed your house of Panels and also would be sent to Head of state Joe Biden for his signature.The bill to honor King, the ping pong Hall of Famer and also activist, had actually presently passed unanimously in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, stated in a claim that King's "lifetime of advocacy and also hard work changed the garden for females as well as women on the court, in the class, as well as the office." The expense was actually offered in September 2023 on the 50th anniversary of Master's victory over Bobby Riggs in the "Struggle of the Sexes," still the most-watched tennis suit of all time. The award, rewarded by Congress for notable success as well as contributions to society, has actually formerly been provided professional athletes, featuring baseball players Jackie Robinson as well as Roberto Clemente and golf enthusiasts Port Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer.King had already been rewarded the Governmental Medal of Freedom in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican politician, mentions she possesses "faulty barriers, led uncharted courses, and also influenced a great number of people to stand proudly along with tenacity and also view in the fight for what corrects.".