Althea Gibson

1927–2003

What Althea contributed

Became the first Black player to win a Grand Slam singles title and later won Wimbledon and the U.S. Nationals.

The story

Gibson won the French Championships in 1956 and Wimbledon and U.S. titles in 1957 and 1958. She later became one of the first Black women on the professional golf tour.

Why it matters

Her victories broke racial barriers in elite international tennis.