Jeanette Lee facts for kids
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Quick facts for kids Personal information |
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| Nickname(s) | Black Widow | |||||||||||||
| Born | July 9, 1971 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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Medal record
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Jeanette Lee (born Lee Jin-Hee, Hangul: 이진희, July 9, 1971) is a famous American professional pool player. She is known by her exciting nickname, the Black Widow. She got this name because even though she was sweet and friendly outside of the game, she was a fierce competitor at the pool table. She also always wore black when she played.
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Jeanette Lee's Amazing Pool Career
Jeanette Lee was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1971. Her parents were immigrants from Korea. She started playing pool in 1989 after watching a professional player. She quickly became very good at the game.
Jeanette became the number one female pool player in the world during the 1990s. This was a huge achievement! In 1998, she received the Women's Professional Billiard Association (WPBA) Sportsperson of the Year Award. This award recognized her great sportsmanship.
She won many important titles, including the US Open 9-ball Championship and the WPBA National Championship. One of her biggest wins was a gold medal for the United States at the 2001 World Games in Akita, Japan. She also won the Tournament of Champions twice, in 1999 and 2003. Jeanette even helped write a book about playing pool called The Black Widow's Guide to Killer Pool.
In 2001, Jeanette played a special exhibition match against another famous pool player, Efren Reyes, in the Philippines. It was a "race-to-13" game of nine-ball, meaning the first player to win 13 games would be the winner.
Hall of Fame Inductions
Jeanette Lee's incredible career has been recognized with several Hall of Fame inductions:
- In 2013, she was welcomed into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame. This is a very high honor for pool players.
- In 2015, she was inducted into the Asian Hall of Fame.
- In 2017, she joined the Women’s Professional Billiards Association Hall of Fame.
Documentary Film
In 2022, ESPN created a special documentary about Jeanette's life called "Jeanette Lee Vs." This film shared her journey from when she started playing pool, her challenges, and how her experiences have shaped her into the amazing person she is today. The film was shown at festivals and on television.
Life Outside of Pool Competition
Jeanette Lee cares deeply about helping others. She has scoliosis, which is a condition that affects the spine. Because of her own experience, she is a strong supporter of people with scoliosis. She is even the national spokesperson for the Scoliosis Association.
Jeanette has also appeared on TV shows. On Sport Science, she showed off her amazing skills by pocketing 12 balls in one incredible trick shot. A custom motorcycle, called the Black Widow Bike, was even built in her honor on the TV show American Chopper.
Jeanette Lee's Personal Life
Jeanette Lee lives in Tampa, Florida, with her three daughters and a foster son. She also has other adult children, including two step-daughters from her previous marriage to George Breedlove, who is also a professional pool player.
In 2021, Jeanette shared that she was diagnosed with a serious illness, stage IV ovarian cancer. By May 2022, it was reported that her treatments were successful. Her life story, including her journey with cancer, is featured in the ESPN documentary Jeanette Lee Vs., which premiered in late 2022.
Major Awards and Recognitions
- 2020 BCA President’s Award
- 2015 Asian Hall of Fame
- 2013 Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame
- 2013 WPBA Hall of Fame
- 2007 Billiards Digest Sports Most Powerful Person
- 2005 Billiards Digest Sports Most Powerful Person
- 2003 Billiards Digest Sports Most Powerful Person
- 2003 Tournament of Champions
- 2001 Billiards Digest Sports Most Powerful Person
- 2001 World Games Nine-ball Singles
- 1999 Tournament of Champions
- 1998 WPBA Sportsperson of the Year
- 1994 Billiards Digest Player of the Year
- 1994 WPBA U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship
- 1994 WPBA National Championship
