Ann Limongello/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Girls going pro today stand tall on the shoulders of giants, fromBillie Jean KingtoMia HammtoSerena Williams. See the astounding feats that made these women and more some of the greatest athletes of all time.
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Billie Jean King Wins the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ in 1973
Billie Jean King.Jerry Cooke /Sports Illustrated via Getty
Jerry Cooke /Sports Illustrated via Getty
When King finally accepted Riggs' chauvinistic challenge and took him on in what became known as the Battle of the Sexes, she won in three straight sets: 6–4, 6–3, 6–3. The historic triumph lived on as a symbol of women’s achievement in sports and progress in society.
It also led to a few more historic firsts for women in her name: In 1973, he US Open became the first sporting event to offer equal prize money for the women’s and men’s tournaments, and in 2006 the National Tennis Center (where the US Open is played) was renamed the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, making King the first woman to have a sports stadium named for her.
02of 10Kathrine Switzer Runs the Boston Marathon in 1967Kathrine Switzer.Paul J. Connell/The Boston Globe via GettyKathrine Switzer became the first woman to complete the Boston Marathon (then limited to men) as a registered runner in 1967, wearing full sweats in an effort to go unnoticed. At once point during the 26.2 miles, a race official spotted her and tried to pull off her bib. Switzer’s then-boyfriend pushed the angry administrator away – a moment that was photographed into history forever.As a result of her run – which Switzer, then 20 years old, completed in four hours and 20 seconds – the Amateur Athletic Union banned women from competing in races against men until 1972.In a 2018 interview with PEOPLE, Switzerlooked back on the dayshe carved her name into women’s sports history.“Sometimes the worst things in your life become the best things. When the angry official attacked me in that first race, it was a frightening, humiliating moment,” she said. “But it was also radicalizing. It made me realize that people didn’t believe in women’s capabilities, so I was determined to finish the race no matter what, even on my hands and knees if I had to, to prove women could do it.”
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Kathrine Switzer Runs the Boston Marathon in 1967
Kathrine Switzer.Paul J. Connell/The Boston Globe via Getty
Paul J. Connell/The Boston Globe via Getty
Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to complete the Boston Marathon (then limited to men) as a registered runner in 1967, wearing full sweats in an effort to go unnoticed. At once point during the 26.2 miles, a race official spotted her and tried to pull off her bib. Switzer’s then-boyfriend pushed the angry administrator away – a moment that was photographed into history forever.
As a result of her run – which Switzer, then 20 years old, completed in four hours and 20 seconds – the Amateur Athletic Union banned women from competing in races against men until 1972.
In a 2018 interview with PEOPLE, Switzerlooked back on the dayshe carved her name into women’s sports history.
“Sometimes the worst things in your life become the best things. When the angry official attacked me in that first race, it was a frightening, humiliating moment,” she said. “But it was also radicalizing. It made me realize that people didn’t believe in women’s capabilities, so I was determined to finish the race no matter what, even on my hands and knees if I had to, to prove women could do it.”
03of 10Lisa Leslie Dunks in a WNBA Game in 2002Lisa Leslie.Lisa Blumenfeld/NBAE/Getty (2)Professional basketball opened courts to women in 1996, with the firstWNBAseason beginning in June of the following year. The league consisted of eight teams, including the Los Angeles Sparks and its star player,Lisa Leslie.The very establishment of the Women’s National Basketball Association was a major win for equality in sports, but Leslie further evened the playing field when she dunked the first basketball in WNBA history in 2002. With that feat of athleticism, Leslie proved that girls can play just as hard as the guys.
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Lisa Leslie Dunks in a WNBA Game in 2002
Lisa Leslie.Lisa Blumenfeld/NBAE/Getty (2)
Lisa Blumenfeld/NBAE/Getty (2)
Professional basketball opened courts to women in 1996, with the firstWNBAseason beginning in June of the following year. The league consisted of eight teams, including the Los Angeles Sparks and its star player,Lisa Leslie.
The very establishment of the Women’s National Basketball Association was a major win for equality in sports, but Leslie further evened the playing field when she dunked the first basketball in WNBA history in 2002. With that feat of athleticism, Leslie proved that girls can play just as hard as the guys.
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Mia Hamm Inducted Into the World Football Hall of Fame in 2013
Mia Hamm.Stanley Hu/WireImage
Stanley Hu/WireImage
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Wilma Rudolph Wins Three Medals at the 1960 Olympics
Wilma Rudolph.Bettmann Archive/Getty
Bettmann Archive/Getty
Before her death at age 54 in 1994 due to brain cancer, Rudolph earned her spot in several of sports' greatest honor rolls. Her name can be spotted in the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, the Black Sports Hall of Fame, the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the U.S. National Track and Field Hall of Fame, among others.
06of 10Serena Williams' ‘Serena Slam’ Win at the 2003 Australian OpenVenus and Serena Williams.Sean Garnsworthy/GettyIn January 2003,Serena Williamsdefeated her older sister,Venus(pictured left), at the Australian Open.Serena was an undeniable supernova already, but her triumph Down Under marked an especially significant feat. She became the fifth woman to hold all four major singles Grand Slam titles at one time, a feat that the press dubbed the “Serena Slam.“Williams got emotional about her triumph after the match. “I’m really, really, really happy. I’d like to thank my mom and my dad for helping me,” she toldTheNew York Times, reportedly on the verge of tears.
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Serena Williams' ‘Serena Slam’ Win at the 2003 Australian Open
Venus and Serena Williams.Sean Garnsworthy/Getty
Sean Garnsworthy/Getty
In January 2003,Serena Williamsdefeated her older sister,Venus(pictured left), at the Australian Open.Serena was an undeniable supernova already, but her triumph Down Under marked an especially significant feat. She became the fifth woman to hold all four major singles Grand Slam titles at one time, a feat that the press dubbed the “Serena Slam.”
Williams got emotional about her triumph after the match. “I’m really, really, really happy. I’d like to thank my mom and my dad for helping me,” she toldTheNew York Times, reportedly on the verge of tears.
07of 10Babe Didrikson Wins Big at the 1932 OlympicsBabe Didrikson Zaharias.Bettmann Archive/GettyBabe Didrikson made her name across the athletic world, competing and excelling in golf, basketball, baseball and track and field. Her multi-event win at the 1932 Olympics didn’t just raise the bar for female sports – she achieved what no man or woman had done before or has done again.A track and field trailblazer, Didrikson proved she could do it all. She won gold in the 80-meter hurdle run and in the javelin throw, and she took home the silver medal in the high jump. She remains the only Olympian to win medals across throwing, jumping and running events.
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Babe Didrikson Wins Big at the 1932 Olympics
Babe Didrikson Zaharias.Bettmann Archive/Getty
Babe Didrikson made her name across the athletic world, competing and excelling in golf, basketball, baseball and track and field. Her multi-event win at the 1932 Olympics didn’t just raise the bar for female sports – she achieved what no man or woman had done before or has done again.
A track and field trailblazer, Didrikson proved she could do it all. She won gold in the 80-meter hurdle run and in the javelin throw, and she took home the silver medal in the high jump. She remains the only Olympian to win medals across throwing, jumping and running events.
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Althea Gibson Wins the 1956 French Open
Althea Gibson.Bettmann Archive/Getty
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Flo-Jo Wins Three Medals at the 1988 Olympics
Florence Griffith Joyner.David Madison/Getty
David Madison/Getty
Beyond the Olympics, though, Flo-Jo still holds the world record for fastest 100-meter run. The late athlete–who died at age 38 after suffering a seizure in her sleep–ran it in 10.42 seconds during the Olympic trials before Seoul.
10of 10The First Women’s World Cup in 1991Team USA wins the first FIFA World Championship for Women’s Football.TOMMY CHENG/AFP via GettyThe United States beat 11 other teams from around the world in the first FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991, with Norway coming in as the runner up. The inaugural tournament – which was held in Guangdong, China – was officially called the 1st FIFA World Championship for Women’s Football for the M&M’s Cup. The unusual title was a result of FIFA’s early hesitancy to associate its brand with women’s sports.The U.S. women’s national soccer team now stands as the most successful squad in the international pool. After 1991, they won four more FIFA World Cups, and they’ve taken home a total of four Olympic gold medals, starting with their first win in 1996.
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The First Women’s World Cup in 1991
Team USA wins the first FIFA World Championship for Women’s Football.TOMMY CHENG/AFP via Getty
TOMMY CHENG/AFP via Getty
The United States beat 11 other teams from around the world in the first FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991, with Norway coming in as the runner up. The inaugural tournament – which was held in Guangdong, China – was officially called the 1st FIFA World Championship for Women’s Football for the M&M’s Cup. The unusual title was a result of FIFA’s early hesitancy to associate its brand with women’s sports.
The U.S. women’s national soccer team now stands as the most successful squad in the international pool. After 1991, they won four more FIFA World Cups, and they’ve taken home a total of four Olympic gold medals, starting with their first win in 1996.
source: people.com
