Billie Jean King: Portrait of a Pioneer

Uncommonly substantial for a sports documentary, Billie Jean King: Portrait of a Pioneer not only celebrates the tennis legend’s athletic achievements but also explores the social role she embraced as a champion for gender equality in sports and within society as a whole. HBO Sports combines rare footage, archival photos and revealing interviews with friends, family and fellow athletes to provide an in-depth look at King’s status as an international icon for women, whether she was demanding equal prize money on the court or encouraging others to pursue endeavors outside the traditional realm of the home. King herself speaks openly and honestly about her life on the court and off, where her private life became public and she emerged as a leader in the gay community. For persuasively confirming the tennis champion’s heroic status in women’s history as well as athletics, Billie Jean King: Portrait of a Pioneer receives a Peabody Award.