Breaking Barriers: 12 Astonishing Fun Facts About the Legendary Althea Gibson

1. From Tennis to Golf Trailblazer

From smashing tennis balls to sinking holes-in-one, Althea Gibson had talents that knew no bounds: She made history as the first Black player to compete on the Women's Professional Golf Tour, after already dominating the tennis court.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Sax, Violins, and Smashing Barriers

While Althea Gibson never participated in "sax and violins" as a member of a jazz-infused orchestra, she did make a racquet on a different stage: Gibson shattered barriers in both tennis and golf by becoming the first African-American to play in the U.S. tennis tour, winning Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, and later joining the LPGA tour as the first black woman.
Source => wbur.org

Did you know that Jackie Robinson shattered racial barriers in the Army before making history in baseball? Discover how he became a 2nd Lieutenant and fought against segregation during WWII!

=> Fun Facts about Jackie-Robinson

3. The Pre-Williams Powerhouse

Before Serena Williams was smashing records left and right, a powerhouse named Althea Gibson was breaking barriers like they were made of eggshells: Althea Gibson became the first African-American player to win Wimbledon, the French Open, and the U.S. Open, changing the tennis landscape forever and scoring the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year award in 1957 and 1958.
Source => yourata.org

4. Multi-Sport & Melodic Maestro

Who needs a one-hit wonder when you can be a multi-sport maestro and a melodic maestro, all rolled into one fantastic phenom? It's like a double scoop of your favorite ice cream, except it's Althea Gibson: a tennis champion who embarked on a successful musical tour, graced the Ed Sullivan Show twice, dabbled in professional golf, and got chummy with Sugar Ray Robinson, culminating in her appointment as the New Jersey Athletic Commissioner overseeing boxing matches.
Source => lpga.com

5. Serving Love and Equality

They say "love" means nothing in tennis, but Althea Gibson definitely mixed up that sentiment when she served up some equality on the court: As the first Black woman to compete in the 1950 U.S. National Championships, Althea smashed racial barriers and went on to triumph at the French Open in 1956, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 1957 and 1958, inspiring a legacy of Black female tennis stars like Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Sloane Stephens, and Coco Gauff.
Source => andscape.com

6. Wimbledon's Original Trailblazer

Long before Serena smashed records and everyone's racquets trembled, a trailblazer whacked a path through Wimbledon's grass: Althea Gibson broke barriers in 1957 as the first African American player to clinch the prestigious Wimbledon singles tennis championship, laying the foundation for future tennis prodigies of color.
Source => goodreads.com

7. Rhythm on and off the Court

Who said you can't serve a funky beat alongside a wicked tennis serve? Althea Gibson had the rhythm to go with her racquet wizardry: The talented tennis star not only achieved athletic excellence but also released a melodic delight with her 1959 album, "Althea Gibson Sings."
Source => history.com

8. Jackie Robinson Meets Serena Williams

Breaking Barriers, One Swing at a Time: When Jackie Robinson met Serena Williams in an alternate universe, they might have named their dynamic offspring Althea Gibson. Althea was the first African-American to win a grand slam title in 1956, racking up a total of 11 grand slam victories throughout her career. She even made it to a Wheaties cereal box in 2001, taking her elusive skills from rackets to birdies while pioneering as the first black golfer in the Ladies Professional Golf Association in 1963.
Source => nj.com

9. The Pioneer Before Venus & Serena

Before Venus and Serena were the tennis world's grand slammin' sisters, there was another leading lady who really aced her way to history's netflix queue and scored a smash hit with her racket-tastic prowess: Althea Gibson broke barriers as the first Black tennis player to win a Grand Slam title, inspiring future generations of Black athletes including the Williams sisters, though curiously omitted from the film "King Richard."
Source => rogerebert.com

10. Forrest Gump's Tennis Rival

Before Serena and Venus swung their way into tennis history, the courts were graced by the racket-tastic prowess of a woman who could've given Forrest Gump a good run for his ping pong money: Althea Gibson's exceptional serve and volley game led her to a successful tennis career after attending Florida A&M University on a sports scholarship, where she received formal training and practice.
Source => rogace.com

11. Defying Tennis Laws of Physics

While Althea Gibson was busy serving up success on the tennis court, she also broke barriers like a tennis ball defying the laws of physics: She became the first African-American player to compete at Forest Hills and win the Wimbledon championships, paving the way for legendary athletes like Arthur Ashe and the Williams sisters to make their own racquet in the sport.
Source => thoughtco.com

12. Tarzan of Sports: Tennis, Golf & More

Swinging from the tennis court to the golf course like Tarzan in the jungle of sports: Althea Gibson not only rocked the tennis world but also became the first African American woman to play in the LPGA Championship in 1963, adding basketball and table tennis to her résumé as well. Ultimately, she smashed her way into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1971 and the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame in 1980.
Source => nmaahc.si.edu