.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean Master will end up being the first specific ladies's athlete to become granted the Legislative Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and also Mikie Sherrill of New Jacket introduced Tuesday that their bipartisan legislation had passed the House of Representatives as well as would be sent to President Joe Biden for his signature.The expense to recognize King, the ping pong Hall of Famer and activist, had actually already passed unanimously in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, said in a statement that Master's "lifetime of proposal and also effort modified the yard for females as well as women on the court, in the class, as well as the place of work." The costs was actually launched in September 2023 on the 50th anniversary of Master's success over Bobby Riggs in the "Fight of the Sexes," still the most-watched tennis match of all time. The medal, awarded through Congress for recognized accomplishments as well as contributions to society, has earlier been actually provided athletes, including pitcher Jackie Robinson as well as Roberto Clemente and golfers Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson as well as Arnold Palmer.King had presently been awarded the Governmental Award of Freedom in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, states she has "faulty barriers, led uncharted paths, as well as motivated a great number of folks to stand up happily with tenacity as well as strong belief in the fight for what is right.".