Althea Gibson

Althea Gibson

Althea Gibson was the first African American woman to compete on a world tennis tour. Over her career, she won five Grand Slam Singles Championships, including two back-to-back Wimbledon titles.

Fast Facts

Born: August 25, 1927
Date of death: September 23, 2003
Birth place: Silver, South Carolina
Grew up in Harlem
Mentroed by Dr. Walter Johnson
First black player to win the U.S. Open or a Wimbledon title
First black member of the LPGA
Six Grand Slam Doubles Championships

Career Highlights

While still an amateur, Althea Gibson won 56 singles and doubles titles in the 1950s. Gibson won the French Open in 1956 and Wimbledon in 1957 and 1958, as well as the U.S. Open in 1957 and 1958. Named "Female Athlete of the Year" by the Associated Press in 1957, she turned professional in 1958.¹

Off the Court

During Gibson's career she wrote the autobiography I Always Wanted to Be Somebody. By 1970, Gibson stopped competing and began teaching pro tennis. In 1975, she became New Jersey State Commissioner of Athletics and also served on the State's Athletics Control Board.¹

Quotes

"In the field of sports you are more or less accepted for what you do rather than what you are."-Althea Gibson

Categories

Sports | Athletes | Tennis | Golf

| View Note History

The Mahalo Top 7

Official Site: AltheaGibson.com
Wikipedia: Althea Gibson
International Tennis Hall of Fame: Althea Gibson biography
United States Golf Association: Golfing Pioneer Althea Gibson Dies at 76 (2003)
The New York Times: "After a Trailblazer Is Honored, Williams Carries on Her Legacy" (August 28, 2007)
ESPN: Althea Gibson Broke Barriers
USTA: Althea Gibson US Open

Althea Gibson News and Articles

US Open 2007: USTA To Honor Althea Gibson on Opening Night (August 15, 2007)
SI.com: Tennis trailblazer Althea Gibson's impact measured by those she inspired (August 27, 2007)
SportingNews.com: Pioneering black women join together to honor Althea Gibson (August 27, 2007)
Telegraph.co.uk: "Late tribute for 'barrier-breaker' Althea Gibson" (August 26, 2007)
ESPN.com: Althea Gibson broke barriers
ESPN Classic: Gibson served as model for Williams sisters
SI.com: 100 Greatest Female Athletes: #30 - Althea Gibson, Tennis
The New York Times: Althea Gibson articles
Google News: Althea Gibson

Althea Gibson Vital Stats

Mahalo's Guide to Professional Tennis
Career Stats
- Height: 5'11
- 11 major titles in singles and doubles

Althea Gibson Timeline

August 25, 1927: Born in Silver, South Carolina
1947: Wins first of ten American Tennis Association championships
1950: Competes in her first U.S. Open
1956: Wins the Rome Masters
1957-1958: Wins back-to-back Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year awards
1959: Records album, Althea Gibson Sings
1971: Inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame
1975: Appointed New Jersey state commissioner of athletics
2003: Died of respiratory failure

Althea Gibson Tournament Titles

Australian Open: 1957 (Doubles)
French Open: 1956 (Singles and Doubles)
Wimbledon: 1956 (Doubles), 1957 (Singles and Doubles), 1958 (Singles and Doubles)
U.S. Open: 1957 (Singles and Mixed), 1958 (Singles)

Althea Gibson Fansites, Blogs and Forums

New York Observer: US Open Blog: Roger Federer on Althea Gibson (August 27, 2007)
The New York Times: US Open '07: What We Want, Baby, She’s Got It (August 27, 2007)
FitSugar: US Open, Opens Today! (August 27, 2007)
Google Blog Search: Althea Gibson

Althea Gibson Photos

Official Site: Photo Gallery
Google Images: Althea Gibson
Flickr: Althea Gibson search
Google Video: Althea Gibson documentary (Time: 24:22)

Althea Gibson Merchandise

Amazon.com: Althea Gibson Books
eBay: Althea Gibson auctions

Related Pages on Mahalo

Wimbledon | French Open | U.S. Open (tennis) | Arthur Ashe | Venus Williams | Serena Williams