Althea Gibson was an American professional tennis player and the first African American to win a Grand Slam title. She won the French Open in 1956 and Wimbledon in 1957, making her the first black athlete to win a major title in any sport. Gibson was also the first black woman to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1971. She is often referred to as 'Gibson of Tennis' due to her immense success in the sport.