Billie Jean King first saw gender inequality in tennis at just 12 years old. Back in 1955, she was barred from a group photo at the Los Angeles Tennis Club because she wore tennis shorts instead of the traditional skirt. That moment opened her eyes to the unfair treatment of women in sports. It didn’t take long for her to realize that the problem ran much deeper than dress codes. From that day on, King made it her mission to fight for equality in tennis. She played a major role in forming the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), and her historic “Battle of the Sexes” match in 1973 proved the strength of women’s tennis. Her impact is undeniable. Now, she’s celebrating another milestone for women in sports.
Zimbabwe’s sports minister, Kirsty Coventry, has made history. She has been elected as the new president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), becoming the first woman and the first African to hold the position. The 41-year-old former swimmer, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, will take over from Thomas Bach, who has led the IOC since 2013. Coventry will be the youngest president in the organization’s 130-year history. She has already been on the IOC executive board and was reportedly Bach’s preferred candidate. Now, she becomes the 10th person to hold the most powerful position in global sports, set to serve for at least eight years. Coventry is Zimbabwe’s most decorated Olympian, winning seven of the country’s eight Olympic medals. Her election is a massive step forward for women in sports leadership, and Billie Jean King wasted no time celebrating the achievement.
King took to X to congratulate Coventry. The legendary tennis player wrote, “Congratulations to @KirstyCoventry, who has just been voted the International Olympic Committee’s 10th President since the body was created in 1894. She is the IOC’s first woman President. Thank you to outgoing President Thomas Bach for his many years of service.”
Congratulations to @KirstyCoventry, who has just been voted the International Olympic Committee’s 10th President since the body was created in 1894.
She is the IOC’s first woman President.
Thank you to outgoing President Thomas Bach for his many years of service. https://t.co/FRWCi8MPJo
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) March 20, 2025
The 81-year-old is known as one of the greatest tennis players in history, with 39 Grand Slam titles to her name. But beyond the trophies, she has always been about the fight for equality. One of her biggest victories? Equal prize money in tennis.
How Billie Jean King Fought for Equal Pay
Winning 39 Grand Slam titles? Holding the No. 1 ranking for six years? Defeating Bobby Riggs in the iconic “Battle of the Sexes” match in 1973? All impressive. But for Billie Jean King, her biggest achievement wasn’t on the court—it was changing the pay gap in women’s tennis.
In 1972, the American tennis icon became the first female athlete to earn over $100,000 in a year. But when she won the U.S. Open that same year, she got a harsh reality check. Her prize money was $10,000—while the men’s champion walked away with $25,000. King was furious. In the press conference, she made a bold declaration: if the prize money wasn’t equal next year, women wouldn’t return to the U.S. Open.
At the time, a survey at the U.S. Open showed that women’s matches were more popular than even the players had expected. But popularity meant nothing if their paychecks didn’t reflect it. King took matters into her own hands and went looking for sponsors to cover the $15,000 difference. Bristol Myers Squibb stepped up. The company offered to pay the entire amount, forcing the U.S. Tennis Association to take action. As a result, the 1973 U.S. Open became the first sporting event to offer equal prize money for men and women.
That was just the beginning. Billie Jean King’s fight didn’t stop at tennis. She continued advocating for equal pay in sports and beyond, pushing for fairness across all industries. Today, sports are still battling gender pay gaps, but King’s work laid the foundation for progress. Coventry’s historic election is another milestone in the fight for equality. What do you think is Billie Jean King’s most important contribution to women’s sports?
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