Althea Gibson.
She was a one-of-a-kind tennis star and golf professional.
Back in 1957 and 1958, Gibson became the first African American ever to win the coveted championship titles in Wimbledon and in what is now the U.S. Open. By the time her tennis career ended, she had walked away with about 58 national and international singles and doubles titles.
Then in 1964, Gibson became the first Black American woman to join the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), where she broke course records in several tournaments.
But there was much more to Gibson than her sporting conquests. She was a talented singer, an aspiring actress, a businesswoman and a New Jersey state athletic commissioner.
And there’s more.
So if you’re interested in finding out more about this dynamic woman who inspired scores of younger athletes – including Venus and Serena Williams – you should check out my interview with Ashley Brown, assistant professor of history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Brown’s biography of Gibson was published in February of this year, and it’s a fascinating account of Gibson’s life and times.
Click here to listen to my intervew with Professor Ashley Brown (via the Biographers International Organization podcast series), and enjoy!
