At 82 years old, Billie Jean King has achieved what many people can only dream of - graduating from college. On Monday, she finally received her degree in history from Cal State Los Angeles, a feat she'd been chasing for over six decades.

Billie Jean King is a name synonymous with tennis excellence. She left college in 1964 to pursue a career in tennis and went on to become the top-ranked tennis professional in the world. Her trailblazing career was marked by 39 championships, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, and a congressional Gold Medal. But despite her numerous achievements, King always felt a void - she hadn't completed her college education. She didn't have a degree, and that bothered her.

King chose Cal State Los Angeles, then known as Los Angeles State College, because the tennis coach, Scotty Deeds, trained men and women together. This approach to winning in tennis was revolutionary at the time. It gave King the level of competition she needed to excel. Under the guidance of Deeds and the women's coach Dr. Joan Johnson, King distinguished herself as a tennis champ in college. She won Wimbledon doubles while enrolled.

"Yeah baby, only 61 years!"

King's true motivation since childhood had been to fight discrimination. She first remembered feeling this way at age 12, when she realized that virtually everyone at the tennis clubs where she trained was white. This realization sparked a passion in King to make the world a better place through equality and inclusion. King didn't just want to play tennis - she wanted to make a difference. As one of the first openly gay professional athletes, King founded the Women's Tennis Association in 1973.

She successfully campaigned to get the US Open to pay equal purses.

In her commencement speech, King advised her fellow graduates to have fun. She told them to be fearless. She also encouraged them to make history. Her speech was a testament to her tireless efforts to promote equality and inclusion, both on and off the tennis court. King's historic match against Bobby Riggs in 1973, billed as "The Battle of the Sexes," was a defining moment in her career. It showcased her skills and cemented her status as a tennis legend.

King's graduation is a reminder that it's never too late to pursue one's dreams and passions. Her story serves as an inspiration to people of all ages. It demonstrates that with determination and hard work, anything is possible. King's legacy continues to inspire generations of tennis players and equality advocates around the world. She won't stop inspiring people anytime soon.

  • Billie Jean King graduated from Cal State Los Angeles at 82 years old.
  • She left college in 1964 to pursue a career in tennis.
  • King won 39 championships and a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
  • She was one of the first openly gay professional athletes.
  • King founded the Women's Tennis Association in 1973.