In Memoriam: Althea Gibson
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of the United States Tennis Association. “Arthur Ashe’s job was not easy, but if
he had to climb a hill, Althea Gibson had to climb a mountain. She was the
original breakthrough person.”
championship in 1950 and at Wimbledon in 1951. She won the French Open in `56
and back-to-back U.S. and Wimbledon titles in `57 and `58. After her first
Wimbledon victory, she was given a ticker-tape parade in New York
City.
a professional golfer, a saxophone player, a blues singer, a teacher, an actress
and yes, a tennis phenom. She was 76.
to win Wimbledon, released a statement Sunday that read in part, “I am grateful
to Althea Gibson for having the strength and courage to break through the racial
barriers in tennis… Althea Gibson was the first African-American woman to rank
No. 1 and win Wimbledon, and I am honored to have followed in such great
footsteps. Her accomplishments set the stage for my success and through players
like myself, Serena (Williams) and many others to come, her legacy will live
on.”
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