Billie Jean King earns college degree at 82, 65 years after first enrolling: 'It is never too late'

Billie Jean King has added another milestone to her extraordinary life, earning her college degree at the age of 82.

The tennis icon received a Bachelor of Arts in History from California State University, Los Angeles during the school’s commencement ceremony on May 18, completing a journey she began when she first enrolled in 1961.

King left college in 1964 to pursue her tennis career, which led to 39 Grand Slam titles and decades of advocacy for gender equality in sports. More than six decades later, she returned to finish what she started.

“It is never too late,” King told People. “I hope that one other person will go back to school because of this.”

According to People, King is the first person in her immediate family to graduate from college. During the ceremony, she celebrated by tossing signed tennis balls into the crowd and encouraged graduates with the phrase “Sí se puede.”

King said completing her degree had long been a personal goal. “I never graduated from college. It has always bothered me,” she previously shared in a social media video.

The sports legend, who helped found the Women's Tennis Association and transformed opportunities for women athletes, said she is even considering pursuing a master’s degree.

With this latest accomplishment, Billie Jean King has once again shown that determination and lifelong learning have no age limit.