.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean Master will end up being the 1st personal females's professional athlete to become granted the Legislative Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania as well as Mikie Sherrill of New Jacket revealed Tuesday that their bipartisan regulations had passed your house of Agents as well as would certainly be actually sent out to President Joe Biden for his signature.The expense to recognize Master, the ping pong Hall of Famer and also protestor, had presently passed unanimously in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, said in a declaration that King's "life-time of proposal and hard work changed the yard for ladies as well as girls on the courthouse, in the class, and also the office." The expense was actually presented in September 2023 on the 50th anniversary of Master's success over Bobby Riggs in the "Fight of the Sexes," still the most-watched tennis match of perpetuity. The award, rewarded through Our lawmakers for notable success and contributions to culture, has actually earlier been actually offered to sportsmens, including pitcher Jackie Robinson and also Roberto Clemente as well as golfers Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and also Arnold Palmer.King had actually currently been actually granted the Governmental Medal of Freedom in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, mentions she possesses "damaged barricades, led uncharted roads, and also encouraged many individuals to stand proudly with courage and strong belief in the defend what corrects.".