Althea Gibson

Date of Birth: August 25, 1927

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: September 28, 2003

Biography

Althea Gibson was a pioneering American athlete, known for breaking racial barriers in the world of tennis and later in professional golf. Born in Silver, South Carolina, Gibson rose from humble beginnings to become the first African American to win a Grand Slam title. Her victory at the French Open in 1956 paved the way for subsequent triumphs, including her historic wins at Wimbledon and the U.S. Nationals in 1957 and 1958. Gibson’s exceptional talent and determination not only earned her accolades on the tennis court but also helped to challenge and change the racial segregation prevalent in sports during her time. After retiring from tennis, she became one of the first African American women to join the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour, further cementing her legacy as a trailblazer in multiple sports.

5 Interesting Facts about Althea Gibson

1. Althea Gibson was the first African American to win a Grand Slam tennis title.

2. She won 11 Grand Slam tournaments, including five singles titles and six doubles titles.

3. Gibson was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1971.

4. In addition to tennis, she became a professional golfer and played on the LPGA Tour.

5. Althea Gibson also authored an autobiography titled “I Always Wanted to Be Somebody.”

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Althea Gibson

1. “No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helps you.”

2. “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.”

3. “In the field of sports, you are more or less accepted for what you do rather than what you are.”

4. “Being champion is all well and good, but you can’t eat a crown.”

5. “People don’t realize what it means to be a champion. It means sacrificing a lot of things.”