The new Althea Gibson U.S. postage stamp gets the official Sonny Side of Sports seal of approval.
The United States Postal Service says the stamp of the tennis champion, who died in 2003 at age 76, emphasizes two of her notable characteristics: grace and athleticism.
The art is based on a photograph taken at Wimbledon, a tournament Gibson won in 1957 and 1958.
Althea Gibson in 1956, the year she won the French Open.
In 1956, Gibson won the French Open, becoming the first African-American player to win a Grand Slam tennis title.
Althea Gibson on the cover of TIME magazine in 1957.
In all, she won 11 major titles, and is credited with breaking racial barriers in the sport.
At the stamp dedication ceremony, on the grounds of the U.S. Open in New York, another tennis legend, Billie Jean King, said Althea Gibson’s achievements served as a catalyst for equality in sports and in life.
Gibson was also a pioneer in women’s golf. After retiring from tennis, she became the first African-American to qualify for the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour and played many LPGA tournaments in the 1960s.
Great achievement by Gibson.This clearly shows that she was a great woman of character and sporty skills.
One thing I can say about this stamp is “At Last”, which is the same thing Althea said when she won her first title of The first black player to win the French Open.
Another thing is; Who would have known that Althea could blaze such a distinguished trail? Every parent should read her story and encourage their child to find their nitch in life and they also can become whomever they want to be.