.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean King are going to end up being the very first private women's athlete to become awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania as well as Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey introduced Tuesday that their bipartisan regulations had actually passed your home of Panels and also would certainly be delivered to President Joe Biden for his signature.The bill to honor King, the ping pong Hallway of Famer as well as activist, had actually actually passed unanimously in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, said in a statement that King's "life time of advocacy as well as hard work altered the yard for girls and ladies on the courthouse, in the classroom, and also the workplace." The bill was actually introduced in September 2023 on the 50th anniversary of King's success over Bobby Riggs in the "Battle of the Sexes," still the most-watched tennis suit of perpetuity. The award, awarded through Congress for distinguished accomplishments and additions to culture, has earlier been actually offered to athletes, featuring baseball players Jackie Robinson as well as Roberto Clemente as well as golf players Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson as well as Arnold Palmer.King had already been actually awarded the Presidential Medal of Liberty in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, claims she has "defective barriers, led uncharted courses, and also motivated many folks to stand up proudly with courage and also conviction in the defend what corrects.".