Tennis Champion Althea Gibson Notches a Historic Win

NYPR Archives & Preservation | Apr 30, 2014

On July 11, 1957, right after her first victory at Wimbledon, WNYC aired this official reception for tennis star Althea Gibson. Gibson won 11 grand slam tournaments during her career, was the first black athlete of either gender to break into the international tennis world, and many have called her one of the greatest tennis players of all time.  At this reception, Mayor Robert F. Wagner awards her with a special medal of honor from the city of New York.

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