Billie Jean King becomes first female athlete to receive star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Tennis legend Billie Jean King became the first female athlete to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday. King’s star was unveiled with the help of Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson and Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis.

For many years, the Hollywood Walk of Fame only featured celebrities in the categories of film, television, music and radio. In 2021, the Walk of Fame added a Sports Entertainment category. King, a 39-time Grand Slam champion, was the first woman to be honored in that category.

“The important thing is, I don’t want to be the last one,” King said in her speech, according to the official Olympics website.

King was born and raised in Long Beach, not far from Hollywood, and she said her mother would have been especially moved by this newest accolade.

“My family loved music and movies,” King said. “My mother would have loved this.”

Johnson also spoke at the event, and he praised King for using her time and resources to bring about positive change in her community and across the world.

“You always fight for what’s right,” Johnson said. “You lend your platform and your voice and your time and your money to bring about change.”

King’s star was the 2,807th one to be awarded on the Walk of Fame. Fans looking to visit it can find it at the intersection of Hollywood and Vine.

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Billie Jean King receives Hollywood Walk of Fame star

Legendary tennis player and social equality advocate Billie Jean King has received a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.

King, 81, is the first woman to be given the honour in the new sports entertainment category.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame was previously reserved for stars of cinema, television, radio, theatre and music.

“The important thing is, I don’t want to be the last one,” said King.

“My family loved music and movies. My mother would have loved this.”

Her star is the 2,807th to be installed on the Walk of Fame, which began in 1960 and runs along along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Los Angeles.

King one of the greatest female tennis players of all time, winning 39 Grand Slam titles in singles and doubles competitions.

She is also an advocate for gender equality and social justice, winning the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match against Bobby Riggs in 1973.

The American is also the founder of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).

King was honoured with the lifetime achievement award at the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year in 2018.

In 2020 the Fed Cup was renamed the Billie Jean King Cup in honour of the former world number one.

Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup qualifier against Germany will be live on the BBC iPlayer and Red Button from 13:00 BST on Friday, with text coverage on the BBC Sport website.