Astounding Athletes

Astounding Athletes

Hidden Heroes of History

Dorktales Podcast: Episode 116

A tale of athletic feats and unstoppable spirit! Meet three superstars who took their shot and ruled their sport. Althea Gibson, the first Black woman to win a tennis championship, smashed records and shattered barriers on and off the court. Lusia Harris made history with the very first basket in Olympic women’s basketball, earning her crown as the “Queen of Basketball.” During World War II, Marge Villa was one of only 11 Latinas to play in the first professional women’s baseball league, and her stats at the plate put her in a league of her own. These astounding athletes proved that grit, talent, and a never-give-up attitude are the winning game plan for change.

Did You Know?

Althea Gibson – Tennis and Golf Champion

Althea Gibson was a professional tennis player and later, golfer. She was the first Black athlete to win two major tennis tournaments: the French Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open singles championships.

Her road to becoming a tennis champion wasn’t easy. She was born in 1927 in Silver, South Carolina, and grew up in the neighborhood of Harlem in New York City. The unfair laws at the time made it hard for her to access tennis courts and compete, but she never gave up. She learned to play at night and won ten straight tennis championships with the ATA, or the American Tennis Association.

The ATA was created to support Black athletes because, back then, they were left out of what were considered the main tennis competitions. Eventually, in 1950, Althea was able to compete in a U.S. national competition, becoming the first African-American athlete to do so.

In 1956, she became the first African American to win a Grand Slam title, winning all four major championships in one calendar year. Despite her achievements, Althea wasn’t allowed to use the front door at competitions. She had to enter through the back, and she couldn’t use the same locker room as the white players or dine in the dining room. There were still laws that allowed discrimination based on the color of a person’s skin.

After her tennis career, Althea became a pro golfer. She wrote a book and was honored multiple times for her achievements.

Lusia Harris – Queen of Basketball

Lusia Mae Harris, nicknamed “Lucy,” was born in Mississippi in 1955. She grew up shooting hoops outside her house and dreamed of becoming a basketball star like the ones she saw on TV. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall, she had the perfect height for basketball.

She was a star player on her high school team, then went on to play basketball at Delta State University in Mississippi. She led her college team to three national championships.

In 1976, the Summer Olympics in Montreal became the first to include women’s basketball. Lusia was chosen for the U.S. Women’s National Team and made history by scoring the first basket ever in Olympic women’s basketball. Her team brought home the silver medal.

Afterward, there were few opportunities for her to keep playing professionally. At the time, pro basketball was only for men. The New Orleans Jazz, an NBA team, even invited her to try out, but she declined. 

Lusia opened the door for many girls who came after her. She returned home to coach at her old high school and raise her children. She had no regrets about not joining the NBA, but she knew that if she had been born in another time, her basketball career would have been much longer.

Marge Villa – Baseball and Golf Star

Marge Villa was from Montebello, California, and was one of only eleven Latinas to play in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

The league started in America during World War II when many of the male baseball players were away at war. It was the first professional baseball league for women.

Marge started playing baseball at 13 years old with a local team. She eventually became the catcher for the Kenosha Comets in Wisconsin, but was versatile enough to play any position.

She made history when she drove in 9 runs and scored 11 bases, setting two single-game league records that no one else could outdo. Over her career, she played 500 games.

After retiring from baseball, Marge turned to golf and became a national champion.