.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean King will come to be the first specific women's professional athlete to become awarded the Legislative Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and also Mikie Sherrill of New Jacket announced Tuesday that their bipartisan regulations had passed our home of Panels and also will be sent out to President Joe Biden for his signature.The bill to recognize King, the ping pong Lobby of Famer and also activist, had actually passed with one voice in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, claimed in a statement that King's "lifetime of campaigning for and also effort transformed the landscape for females and ladies on the courtroom, in the classroom, and also the work environment." The bill was actually launched in September 2023 on the 50th wedding anniversary of King's triumph over Bobby Riggs in the "War of the Sexual activities," still the most-watched ping pong suit of perpetuity. The award, rewarded through Congress for recognized success and also additions to culture, has earlier been actually provided sportsmens, featuring pitcher Jackie Robinson and also Roberto Clemente and also golfers Port Nicklaus, Byron Nelson as well as Arnold Palmer.King had already been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, states she has "defective obstacles, led undiscovered pathways, as well as influenced numerous individuals to stand up happily with courage and conviction in the defend what is right.".