Gibson, Althea (1927–2003)

US tennis player, the first black American woman to compete at the US Championships at Forest Hills in 1950 and at Wimbledon in 1951. In 1957 she took both the women's singles and doubles titles at Wimbledon and the singles at Forest Hills. In 1958 she successfully defended all three titles. She ended her career with 11 Grand Slam titles.

Born in Silver, South Carolina, USA, and raised in New York, Gibson was hindered in her tennis career by racial discrimination and segregation. In 1943 she won the New York State Negro girls' singles title, and in 1948 the national Negro women's title. She later played professional golf.