.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean Master will certainly become the first personal females's athlete to be rewarded the Legislative Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Mikie Sherrill of New Jacket revealed Tuesday that their bipartisan regulations had actually passed our home of Representatives and would be sent out to Head of state Joe Biden for his signature.The costs to recognize Master, the ping pong Hallway of Famer and also activist, had actually passed all in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, claimed in a statement that Master's "life time of advocacy and hard work modified the yard for ladies and also girls on the courthouse, in the classroom, as well as the work environment." The bill was actually offered in September 2023 on the 50th anniversary of King's triumph over Bobby Riggs in the "Battle of the Sexes," still the most-watched tennis match of perpetuity. The award, rewarded by Congress for recognized success as well as payments to community, has earlier been provided to professional athletes, featuring baseball players Jackie Robinson as well as Roberto Clemente and also golf players Port Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer.King had presently been rewarded the Governmental Medal of Independence in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, claims she has "broken barricades, led uncharted courses, and influenced countless folks to stand up proudly with guts and also conviction in the fight for what corrects.".