Tennis legend graduates from university after 65 years: "A dream postponed due to sports, achieved at age 82"

*This content was translated by AI.

Billie Jean King (82, USA), the "living legend" of tennis with 39 major titles, has finally embraced the university diploma she had long dreamed of, 65 years after first enrolling.

US People.com reported on the 19th (Korean time) that "sports icon Billie Jean King received a bachelor's degree in history from California State University after a long period of time, having left school to focus on her tennis career."

King first enrolled at the university in 1961 but dropped out of her studies three years later to focus on her tennis career. However, even after finishing her successful playing career, she never gave up on her dream of continuing her education. Eventually, she returned to the classroom and finally embraced her graduation diploma with emotion. Earlier, King had announced that she would return to school to complete her unfinished studies from 2024. She has now accomplished that.

Taking the stage to deliver a speech, King told the graduates, "It took more than 60 years for me to return to the classroom to complete my degree in history. I had something I couldn't finish. It was important for me to finish what I started. I like to complete things. It's like shaking hands at the net after a match."

King also posted a photo on her social media wearing a graduation gown and cap, along with a message containing the lesson: "It is never too late to finish what you started."

King is a "tennis legend" who has won 39 times in major tournaments alone. She has claimed the top spot 12 times in Grand Slam singles. She won Wimbledon six times (1966, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1975), the Australian Open once (1968), the French Open once (1972), and the US Open four times (1967, 1971, 1972, 1974). She also won 16 times in doubles and 11 times in mixed doubles.

Her playing days were not easy. Through her speech, King recalled, "In 1961, there was no financial support for female players. At that time, my friends Arthur Ashe and Stan Smith were male team scholarship holders. Today, a Wimbledon doubles victory is worth nearly $500,000 (about 760 million won). But back then, I think we received gift certificates worth about $45 (about 70,000 won) that could be used at local stores."

Despite various difficulties, King grew into a world-class player. In particular, in 1973, she won the so-called "Battle of the Sexes" against male player Bobby Riggs, drawing global attention.

King's influence extended beyond the court. She spoke out for more prize money and opportunities for female tennis players, which became a stepping stone for expanding the rights of women in sports. Currently, a statue of King stands outside the building of the university's Department of Physical Education.

However, despite leaving behind numerous achievements, a sense of regret about graduation remained in King's heart. King said, "When someone told me that I had graduated, I would often reply, 'Never say I graduated. I haven't gotten it yet.' But as I came here today, I thought for the first time, 'Now I can tell people that I have graduated.'"

She also recalled how the teaching methods have changed over more than 60 years. King said, "Now it has changed much more to be online-centered. In the past, I had to go to the classroom in person. I wasn't always present, but I liked talking to professors and I liked learning."

Finally, King concluded her speech by shouting "Sí se puede!" in Spanish, meaning "You can do it!" The graduates responded with warm applause and cheers.

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*This content was translated by AI.