Billie Jean King has never been one to leave unfinished business on the tennis court — or in the classroom.
The 82-year-old tennis great on Monday graduated with a bachelor’s of art in history from Cal State Los Angeles at the Shrine Auditorium alongside 6,000 other students, the university announced in a news release.
“More than 60 years have passed before I returned to the classroom to complete my degree in history,” King said, addressing her fellow graduates.
“Talk about delayed gratification, and I came back with a purpose. I had unfinished business, and it is important to me to finish what I started,” she continued. “I like completing things. It’s like shaking hands at the net after a match.”
King initially enrolled at the university back in 1961, when it was still called Los Angeles State College. She studied there for three years before leaving school to focus on her tennis career. She went on to become one of the most accomplished players in history, winning 39 Grand Slam titles while breaking down barriers for women athletes, championing equality both on and off the court. She also famously beat Bobby Riggs in a match nicknamed the “Battle of the Sexes.”
King shared a photo on Instagram of herself in a graduation gown and gold personalized stole. One side featured her initials while the other had “GOAT,” which stands for “greatest of all time,” on it.
Her achievement comes two years after revealing she planned to return to the university to complete her degree.
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