Main content

Renee Richards: Transgender tennis star

The transgender American tennis player who fought for the right to compete in tournaments as a woman in the 1970s.

In the 1970s, the American transgender tennis player, Renee Richards, fought a long campaign for the right to play tournaments as a woman. Despite objections from fellow players and the tennis establishment, she was eventually allowed to play in the US Open. She shares her story with Ashley Byrne.

(Photo: Renee Richards prepares for a forearm shot in a match at the professional womens tennis tournament in Seattle, 1978. She defeated Sue Mappin of England, 7-6, 5-1 (tiebreaker), 6-1. Credit: AP/Kerry Coughlin)

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Tue 16 Jun 2015 08:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sun 14 Jun 2015 04:50GMT
  • Sun 14 Jun 2015 23:50GMT
  • Tue 16 Jun 2015 08:50GMT

Featured in...

Olympic history

Olympic history

The inside and personal story of the key moments from sporting history

Sporting Witness Films

Sporting Witness Films

Watch sporting heroes tell their stories of astonishing achievement

Podcast