Billie Jean King

Hello! My name is Billie Jean King. I was born in the year 1943. When I was a little girl, I loved to run and play all kinds of sports. One day, I tried a sport called tennis. I got to hit a fuzzy yellow ball over a big net with a racket. It was so much fun! I knew right away that I wanted to be the best tennis player in the world.

I practiced playing tennis every single day. I would hit the ball back and forth, back and forth. I got stronger and faster. Soon, I started playing in big games called tournaments. I won lots and lots of them! It felt so good to play my hardest and win.

Some people back then thought that only boys should play sports. I knew that wasn't true! I believed that girls were strong and could be amazing athletes, too. In 1973, I played a very special game to show everyone that girls can do anything boys can do. I wanted to make sure all kids, no matter if they were a boy or a girl, had a chance to play and have fun.

Today, I am so happy when I see boys and girls playing sports together. I hope you always remember to play fair, try your best, and know that you can do anything you dream of!