Althea Gibson facts for kids
Gibson in 1956
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| Country (sports) |  United States |
|---|---|
| Born | August 25, 1927 Clarendon County, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | September 28, 2003 (aged 76) East Orange, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Retired | 1958 |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 1971 (member page) |
| Singles | |
| Career titles | 56 |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (1957) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | F (1957) |
| French Open | W (1956) |
| Wimbledon | W (1957, 1958) |
| US Open | W (1957, 1958) |
| Doubles | |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1957) |
| French Open | W (1956) |
| Wimbledon | W (1956, 1957, 1958) |
| US Open | F (1957, 1958) |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Australian Open | SF (1957) |
| French Open | QF (1956) |
| Wimbledon | F (1956, 1957, 1958) |
| US Open | W (1957) |
Althea Gibson (born August 25, 1927 – died September 28, 2003) was a famous American athlete. She was the world's top-ranked female tennis player. Althea made history as the first African-American woman to play in major tennis tournaments. She was also the first to win a Grand Slam title in 1956. Many people call her "the Jackie Robinson of tennis." This is because she helped break down racial barriers in the sport.
Contents
Early Life and Growing Up
The loser is always a part of the problem; the winner is always a part of the answer. The loser always has an excuse; the winner always has a program. The loser says it may be possible, but it's difficult; the winner says it may be difficult, but it's possible.
Althea Gibson was born on August 25, 1927. Her family lived in Silver, South Carolina. Her parents, Daniel and Annie Bell Gibson, worked on a cotton farm. This was during the Great Depression. Many farmers faced hard times. So, in 1930, her family moved to Harlem, New York City. This was part of the Great Migration. Her three younger sisters and brother were born there.
Their apartment was on 143rd Street. This street was a Police Athletic League play area. During the day, it was closed off for kids to play sports. Althea quickly became very good at paddle tennis. By 1939, at age 12, she was the New York City women's paddle tennis champion. Althea left school at 13. She faced many challenges growing up. She spent some time in a protective shelter.
Tennis Career Highlights
In 1940, some of Althea's neighbors helped her. They raised money for tennis lessons. She joined the Cosmopolitan Tennis Club in Harlem. At first, Althea didn't like tennis. She thought it was for "weak people." She said, "I kept wanting to fight the other player every time I started to lose a match."
Early Success and Breaking Barriers
In 1941, Althea entered her first tournament. She won the American Tennis Association (ATA) New York State Championship. She won the ATA national championship for girls in 1944 and 1945. Then, she won ten straight national ATA women's titles starting in 1947.
In 1946, Althea moved to Wilmington, North Carolina. She worked on her tennis skills with Dr. Hubert A. Eaton. She also went to Williston Industrial High School. In 1949, she became the first Black woman to play in the USTA's National Indoor Championships. She reached the quarter-finals. Later that year, she got a full sports scholarship to Florida A&M University (FAMU).
In 1950, Althea became the first Black player invited to the Nationals. This was a major tournament. She played her first match at Forest Hills a few days after her 23rd birthday. She lost a close match to Louise Brough. Brough was the reigning Wimbledon champion. Even though Althea lost, her playing in the tournament was big news. It was covered all over the country and the world.
Grand Slam Victories
On May 27, 1956, Althea Gibson made history. She became the first African-American athlete to win a Grand Slam tournament. This was the singles event at the French Championships. She also won the doubles title with her partner, Angela Buxton from Britain. Later that year, she won the Wimbledon doubles championship again with Buxton. She also won titles in Italy, India, and Ceylon.
The year 1957 was amazing for Althea. She called it "Althea Gibson's year." In July, she was the top seed at Wimbledon. This was seen as the "world championship of tennis." She beat Darlene Hard in the finals to win the singles title. She was the first Black champion in Wimbledon's 80-year history. Queen Elizabeth II personally gave her the trophy. She also won the doubles championship for the second year in a row.
When she returned home, Althea received a ticker tape parade in New York City. She was only the second Black American to get this honor, after Jesse Owens. Mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr. gave her the Bronze Medallion. This is the city's highest award for civilians. A month later, she won her first US National Championship. She beat Louise Brough easily. In 1957, she reached the finals of eight Grand Slam events. She won Wimbledon and US National singles titles. She also won Wimbledon and Australian doubles championships. She won the US mixed doubles title too. She finished second in Australian singles, US doubles, and Wimbledon mixed doubles. At the end of the season, she broke another barrier. She became the first Black player on the US Wightman Cup team. They beat Great Britain 6–1.
In 1958, Althea won her Wimbledon and US National singles titles again. She also won her third straight Wimbledon doubles championship. She had a different partner each time. She was the number-one-ranked woman in the world in 1957 and 1958. The Associated Press named her Female Athlete of the Year in both years. She also became the first Black woman to be on the covers of Sports Illustrated and Time magazines.
Retirement from Amateur Tennis
In late 1958, Althea Gibson retired from amateur tennis. She had won 56 national and international titles. Before the Open Era, players did not win prize money at major tournaments. They could not have direct sponsorship deals. Players only received small allowances for expenses. Althea wrote, "The truth, to put it bluntly, is that my finances were in heartbreaking shape." She added, "Being the Queen of Tennis is all well and good, but you can't eat a crown." She needed money to live. Professional tours for women did not exist yet. So, her chances to earn money were limited to special events.
Golf Career
In 1964, at age 37, Althea Gibson made history again. She became the first African-American woman to join the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour. But she still faced racial discrimination. Many hotels would not let Black people stay. Some country clubs would not let her compete. When she did play, she often had to change in her car. This was because she was not allowed in the clubhouse.
Althea was one of the LPGA's top 50 money winners for five years. She even won a car at a tournament. But her total golf earnings were never more than $25,000. She broke course records in some rounds. Her highest ranking was 27th in 1966. Her best tournament finish was tying for second place in 1970. She stopped playing professional golf at the end of the 1978 season.
Life After Sports
After retiring, Althea Gibson wrote her autobiography. In 1959, she recorded a music album called Althea Gibson Sings. She also appeared in the movie The Horse Soldiers.
In 1987, at age 60, Althea tried to return to golf. She wanted to be the oldest active player. But she could not get her tour card back. In her second memoir, So Much to Live For, she shared her disappointments. She talked about not reaching all her goals. She also mentioned the lack of endorsements and opportunities. She spoke about the many challenges she faced over the years.
In her later years, Althea had two cerebral aneurysms. In 1992, she had a stroke. A few years later, she called her former doubles partner, Angela Buxton. Althea told her she was living on welfare. She could not pay for rent or medicine. Angela Buxton arranged for a letter to be published in a tennis magazine. Althea did not know about the letter. But she received almost US$1 million from people around the world.
Death
Althea Gibson died on September 28, 2003, at age 76. She passed away in East Orange, New Jersey, due to infections. She was buried in the Rosedale Cemetery in Orange, New Jersey.
Personal Life
Althea Gibson was married twice. Her first marriage was to William Darben on October 17, 1965. They divorced in 1976. William Darben died in 1995. She also married Sydney Llewellyn on April 11, 1983. They divorced in 1988.
Althea Gibson's Lasting Impact
Althea Gibson's achievements opened doors for many others. It was 15 years until another non-White woman, Evonne Goolagong, won a Grand Slam. It was 43 years until another African-American woman, Serena Williams, won her first US Open in 1999. Serena's sister, Venus, then won Wimbledon and the US Open in 2000 and 2001. This repeated Althea's success from 1957 and 1958.
Ten years after Althea's last US Nationals win, Arthur Ashe became the first African-American man to win a Grand Slam singles title. This was at the 1968 US Open. Billie Jean King said, "If it hadn't been for [Althea], it wouldn't have been so easy for Arthur, or the ones who followed."
Awards and Honors
In 1980, Althea Gibson was one of the first six people inducted into the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame. This put her alongside other sports pioneers. She was also inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Many other sports halls of fame honored her too. These included the Florida Sports Hall of Fame and the New Jersey Hall of Fame. She received a Candace Award in 1988.
In 1991, Althea became the first woman to receive the Theodore Roosevelt Award. This is the highest honor from the National Collegiate Athletic Association. She was recognized for her excellent sportsmanship. She was also honored for helping to create more opportunities for women and minorities in sports. Sports Illustrated for Women named her one of the "100 Greatest Female Athletes."
On the opening night of the 2007 US Open, Althea was inducted into the US Open Court of Champions. This was 50 years after her first victory there.
Remembering Her Legacy
Althea Gibson's five Wimbledon trophies are on display. You can see them at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. The Althea Gibson Cup is a seniors tennis tournament held every year in Croatia. The Althea Gibson Foundation helps talented golf and tennis players from cities. In 2005, her friend Bill Cosby started the Althea Gibson Scholarship at her old university, Florida A&M University.
In September 2009, a new tennis facility in Wilmington, North Carolina, was named after her. It is called the Althea Gibson Tennis Complex. Other tennis places named in her honor include those in South Carolina and Florida A&M University.
In 2012, a bronze statue of Althea was put up in Branch Brook Park in Newark, New Jersey. This is near the courts where she used to teach young players.
In August 2013, the United States Postal Service released a postage stamp honoring Althea Gibson. A documentary called Althea was shown in September 2015.
In November 2017, a public sports center in Paris, France, was named the Gymnase Althea Gibson.
In 2018, the USTA decided to build a statue of Althea at Flushing Meadows. This is where the US Open is held. The statue was unveiled in 2019. It is only the second monument there honoring a champion.
Althea Gibson will also be honored on a U.S. quarter in 2025. This is part of the American Women quarters program.
Grand Slam Singles Wins
Althea Gibson won 5 Grand Slam singles titles:
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | French Championships |  Angela Mortimer Barrett |
6–0, 12–10 |
| 1957 | Wimbledon | Darlene Hard |
6–3, 6–2 |
| 1957 | U.S. Championships | Louise Brough Clapp |
6–3, 6–2 |
| 1958 | Wimbledon (2) | Angela Mortimer Barrett |
8–6, 6–2 |
| 1958 | U.S. Championships (2) | Darlene Hard |
3–6, 6–1, 6–2 |
Grand Slam Doubles Wins
Althea Gibson won 6 Grand Slam doubles titles (Women's and Mixed):
| Year | Championship | Event | Partner | Opponents in Final | Score in Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | French Championships | Women's doubles | Angela Buxton |
Darlene Hard Dorothy Head Node |
6–8, 8–6, 6–1 |
| 1956 | Wimbledon | Women's doubles | Angela Buxton |
 Fay Muller Daphne Seeney |
6–1, 8–6 |
| 1957 | Australian Championships | Women's doubles | Shirley Fry Irvin |
Mary Bevis Hawton Fay Muller |
6–2, 6–1 |
| 1957 | Wimbledon (2) | Women's doubles | Darlene Hard |
Mary Bevis Hawton Thelma Coyne Long |
6–1, 6–2 |
| 1957 | U.S. Championships | Mixed doubles |  Kurt Nielsen |
Darlene Hard Bob Howe |
6–3, 9–7 |
| 1958 | Wimbledon (3) | Women's doubles |  Maria Bueno |
Margaret Osborne duPont Margaret Varner Bloss |
6–3, 7–5 |
Images for kids
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Gibson in 1956
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Gibson completes a backhand groundstroke in bronze in Newark, New Jersey, near the courts (in background) on which she ran clinics for young players in her later years.
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Gibson's 1956 Wimbledon doubles trophy, her first of three, and the first Wimbledon trophy won by an African American
See also
In Spanish: Althea Gibson para niños
