Anne Robinson
English television presenter and journalist
Althea Gibson was a pioneering African American tennis player who broke through racial barriers and became one of the greatest players of her time. She won 11 Grand Slam titles, including Wimbledon and the US Nationals, and was the first Black player to compete on the Women’s Professional Golf Tour.
Table of Contents
About the Althea Gibson
Althea Neale Gibsonwas an American tennis player and professional golfer, and one of the first Black athletes to cross the color line of international tennis.
In 1956, she became the first African American to win a Grand Slam event (the French Open). The following year she won both Wimbledon and the US Nationals (precursor of the US Open), then won both again in 1958 and was voted Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press in both years.
In all, she won 11 Grand Slam titles: five singles titles, five doubles titles, and one mixed doubles title. “She is one of the greatest players who ever lived”, said Bob Ryland, a tennis contemporary and former coach of Venus and Serena Williams. “Martina [Navratilova] couldn’t touch her. I think she’d beat the Williams sisters.”
Gibson was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame. In the early 1960s, she also became the first Black player to compete on the Women’s Professional Golf Tour.
At a time when racism and prejudice were widespread in sports and in society, Gibson was often compared to Jackie Robinson. “Her road to success was a challenging one”, said Billie Jean King, “but I never saw her back down.” “To anyone, she was an inspiration, because of what she was able to do at a time when it was enormously difficult to play tennis at all if you were Black”, said former New York City Mayor David Dinkins. “I am honored to have followed in such great footsteps”, wrote Venus Williams. “Her accomplishments set the stage for my success, and through players like myself and Serena and many others to come, her legacy will live on.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Althea Gibson was an American tennis player and professional golfer who was one of the first Black athletes to cross the color line of international tennis.
Althea Gibson became the first African American to win a Grand Slam event, the French Open, in 1956. She then went on to win both Wimbledon and the US Nationals in 1957 and 1958, and was voted Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press in both of those years.
Althea Gibson won a total of 11 Grand Slam titles, including 5 singles titles, 5 doubles titles, and 1 mixed doubles title.
Althea Gibson was a trailblazer who paved the way for future generations of Black tennis players. According to her contemporaries, she was one of the greatest players who ever lived and would have beaten even the likes of Martina Navratilova and the Williams sisters.
In the early 1960s, Althea Gibson became the first Black player to compete on the Women’s Professional Golf Tour, further expanding the boundaries of her athletic achievements.
8 Quotes by Althea Gibson
- 1.
In the field of sports you are more or less accepted for what you do rather than what you are.
Althea GibsonAmerican tennis player (1927-2003)
- 2.
I don’t want to be put on a pedestal. I just want to be reasonably successful and live a normal life with all the conveniences to make it so.
Althea GibsonAmerican tennis player (1927-2003)
- 3.
Most of us who aspire to be tops in our fields don’t really consider the amount of work required to stay tops.
Althea GibsonAmerican tennis player (1927-2003)
- 4.
Being champion is all well and good, but you can’t eat a crown.
Althea GibsonAmerican tennis player (1927-2003)
- 5.
No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helped you.
Althea GibsonAmerican tennis player (1927-2003)
- 6.
In sports, you simply aren’t considered a real champion until you have defended your title successfully. Winning it once can be a fluke; winning it twice proves you are the best.
Althea GibsonAmerican tennis player (1927-2003)
- 7.
Shaking hands with the Queen of England was a long way from being forced to sit in the colored section of the bus going into downtown Wilmington, North Carolina.
Althea GibsonAmerican tennis player (1927-2003)
- 8.
I always wanted to be somebody. If I made it, it’s half because I was game enough to take a lot of punishment along the way and half because there were a lot of people who cared enough to help me.
Althea GibsonAmerican tennis player (1927-2003)