.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean King will certainly become the initial personal ladies's athlete to become awarded the Legislative Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania as well as Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey revealed Tuesday that their bipartisan laws had passed your house of Agents as well as would certainly be actually sent out to Head of state Joe Biden for his signature.The bill to recognize King, the ping pong Hallway of Famer as well as activist, had currently passed all in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, said in a declaration that Master's "lifetime of advocacy and also hard work transformed the garden for females and also girls on the court, in the class, and also the place of work." The bill was actually introduced in September 2023 on the 50th anniversary of King's success over Bobby Riggs in the "Fight of the Sexes," still the most-watched ping pong match of perpetuity. The medal, granted by Congress for recognized achievements and also additions to culture, has actually formerly been provided to sportsmens, consisting of pitcher Jackie Robinson as well as Roberto Clemente and also golf enthusiasts Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson as well as Arnold Palmer.King had currently been awarded the Presidential Award of Independence in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, mentions she possesses "damaged obstacles, led undiscovered paths, and also influenced numerous people to stand up happily along with tenacity and also strong belief in the fight for what is right.".