Former world number one tennis player, Margaret Court became the first woman of the modern era of tennis to win all four Grand Slam singles titles in the same calendar year.
Born in 1942 in Albury, NSW, Court is regarded by many as the greatest female tennis player of all time. She won a record 24 Major singles titles and 11 Australian Opens before retiring in 1975.
Court is one of only three players to have achieved a career "boxed set" of Grand Slam titles, winning every possible Grand Slam title — singles, same-sex doubles and mixed doubles — at all four Grand Slam events.
She is also the only person to have won all 12 Grand Slam events at least twice. She also ties with Kim Clijsters for the number of singles titles as a mother, with three apiece.
A mother of four, Court, who was raised a Catholic, became a Pentecostal after retiring from tennis and, in 1991, she became a Minister of the church. She subsequently opened her own Margaret Court Ministries and she now serves as senior pastor at the church she founded, Victory Life Centre in Perth.
Her television show A Life Of Victory appears on the Australian Christian Channel. She campaigned against laws to give gays and lesbians equal rights as de facto couples — a bill eventually passed by the WA Government in 2002.
This person has made the short list for the title National Living Treasure, this title is conferred when someone accomplishes an outstanding achievement, swelling the country’s consciousness with admiration, pride and acknowledgement... be they scientists or sports stars; actors, artists or Indigenous activists; politicians, philanthropists or explorers, The National Trust’s 2012 nominees are a true cross section of our country’s finest.
Click here to see the full nomination list and vote for your favourite.
