.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean Master will end up being the initial personal females's professional athlete to become awarded the Legislative Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and also Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey declared Tuesday that their bipartisan regulations had passed our home of Agents and also would be sent to President Joe Biden for his signature.The expense to recognize Master, the ping pong Hallway of Famer and also activist, had actually presently passed unanimously in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, stated in a declaration that King's "life-time of proposal and also hard work changed the yard for ladies as well as women on the courthouse, in the classroom, and also the place of work." The costs was presented in September 2023 on the 50th wedding anniversary of Master's triumph over Bobby Riggs in the "Fight of the Sexes," still the most-watched tennis match of all time. The award, rewarded by Congress for distinguished success as well as additions to society, has formerly been actually provided to athletes, featuring pitcher Jackie Robinson and also Roberto Clemente and golf enthusiasts Port Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer.King had actually currently been actually granted the Presidential Award of Flexibility in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican politician, claims she possesses "broken barriers, led uncharted paths, and also motivated plenty of people to stand proudly with guts as well as principle in the fight for what is right.".