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Billie Jean King Receives Presidential Medal of Freedom

Aug 13, 2009 – 8:22 AM
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Michael David Smith

Michael David Smith %BloggerTitle%

Billie Jean King became the first female athlete to receive the nation's highest civilian honor when President Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom at a ceremony in the White House Wednesday.

Obama said of King:
"We honor... what she did to broaden the reach of the game, to change how women athletes and women everywhere view themselves, and to give everyone - including my two daughters - a chance to compete both on the court and in life."
King said she was impressed with the First Family's love of tennis:
"He plays tennis, Michelle is crazy about it," King said. "The girls love it, they play. (At the White House) they have a tennis court and they put down basketball lines as well."
Other honorees included Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Ted Kennedy, Sandra Day O'Connor, Sidney Poitier, Harvey Milk, Stephen Hawking and former President of Ireland Mary Robinson.
Filed under: Sports

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