Tennis Legend Billie Jean King Delivers Powerful Message to Rising Stars Angel Reese, Gabby Thomas at FNAA 2024
Women’s sports had a colossal presence at the 2024 FN Achievement Awards, as Billie Jean King, Angel Reese and Gabby Thomas all took the stage through the course of the night. And while presenting the award for Person of the Year to Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden, the elder superstar had a message for the new generation of athletes in attendance.
“I’d like you to think not only about your own sport, but all sports, especially women’s. And I hope that you take your sport with you, that you truly, truly not just win and compete but start thinking in the terms of we instead of I and really tee it up for future generations,” King said. “I want you to think way beyond yourself, way beyond your sport. But even within your sport, I want you to think about how much you can give back while you’re in it and afterwards to really make a difference beyond just performing. But we are performers, we are educators, and I just want you to think about ‘we’ instead of ‘I.'”
King went on to tout Gulden’s emphasis on placing the “we” over the “I,” and Gulden himself said that the award should be for Team of the Year rather than Person of the Year because of all the people involved at Adidas.
Angel Reese took home the award for Style Influencer of the Year, while Gabby Thomas introduced New Balance CEO Joe Preston to accept the award for Company of the Year.
During her speech, Reese teased her first signature sneaker from Reebok to come in 2026. “I’m 22 years old, I’m still figuring life out, but this is just the beginning,” Reese said.
King also called out a lesser known fact in that Adidas made her the first female athlete to get a signature sneaker in 1971.
“I played this guy, I don’t know if you know, in ’73 and I got to wear these shoes,” King said, referencing her famous “Battle of the Sexes” match win against Robby Riggs. “So it’s pretty awesome, since 90 million people watched my shoes running around. I’m very indebted to Adidas for being the first to do that for women in sports.”
Jackie Joyner-Kersee was also in attendance as a guest of Adidas.
For 38 years, the annual FN Achievement Awards — often called the “Shoe Oscars” — have celebrated the style stars, best brand stories, ardent philanthropists, emerging talents and industry veterans. The 2024 event is supported by sponsors Listrak, Marc Fisher, Nordstrom and Vibram.
About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
