Althea Gibson - Black Icon with a Racket
When the first African-American won Wimbledon
25 July 2024
by Esther Schwartz
In July 1957, Althea Gibson writes sports history: The then 29-year-old African American tennis player is the first Black person to win at Wimbledon. Having grown up in Harlem as a Black young woman in the time of racial segregation, Gibson’s chances to one day become one of the United State’ Top 10 tennis players seemed rather small. Her talent was spotted however, and she became the first Black player in the very white world of top-tier tennis. In 1957, she seemed unstoppable on the court, and became the first African American who graced the covers of Time Magazine and Sports Illustrated. Despite her success in the 1950s and 60s and her being in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, she suffered from financial as well as health problems later in life before she died in 2003. Yet, she is to be remembered not only for her professional achievements, but also as the woman who first broke the colour barrier in the world of tennis.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Althea-Gibson
https://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/inductees/althea-gibson