Althea Gibson: The Wimbledon Champion Who Beat The Odds

2023-07-18

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The world of tennis in the 1940s wasn't made for someone of Althea Gibson's background.She was the descendent of slaves, and grew up in South Carolina with the nearest tennis courts available to an African American at that time being hundreds of miles away.How did Althea Gibson go on to become the first African American to win a Grand Slam title? What challenges did she face on and off the court? And what's her legacy today?Kate is joined by Ashley Brown, author of Serving Herself: The Life and...

The world of tennis in the 1940s wasn't made for someone of Althea Gibson's background.

She was the descendent of slaves, and grew up in South Carolina with the nearest tennis courts available to an African American at that time being hundreds of miles away.

How did Althea Gibson go on to become the first African American to win a Grand Slam title? What challenges did she face on and off the court? And what's her legacy today?

Kate is joined by Ashley Brown, author of Serving Herself: The Life and Times of Althea Gibson, to find out.

This episode was edited by Stuart Beckwith, and produced by Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.

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