Origins & Early Life

Renée Richards (born August 19, 1934) is an American ophthalmologist and former tennis player who competed on the professional circuit in the 1970s, and became widely known following male-to-female medical affirmation, when she fought to compete as a woman in the 1976 US Open. The United States Tennis Association began requiring genetic screening for female players that year. Richards challenged that policy, and the New York Supreme Court ruled in her favor, a landmark case in transgender rights. Among the first professional athletes to transition, she became a spokesperson for transgender people in sports.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

After retiring from play, she coached Martina Navratilova to two Wimbledon titles (1982 and 1983). Richards was born Richard Raskind on August 19, 1934, in New York City and raised, as she put it, as "a nice Jewish boy" in Forest Hills, Queens. Her father David Raskind was an orthopedic surgeon, and her mother was one of the first female psychiatrists in the United States, in addition to being a professor at Columbia University. Richards attended Horace Mann School and excelled as a wide receiver for the football team, a pitcher for the baseball team, and on the...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alan Arkin — Contemporary (Born in 1934) (1934): Esteemed American actor, filmmaker, and musician with a seven-decade career.
• Baby Face Nelson — Contemporary (Died in 1934) (1934): Notorious American bank robber, known for his youthful appearance and partnership with John Dillinger.
• Bill Russell — Contemporary (Born in 1934) (1934): Center for the Boston Celtics, a 12-time champion and basketball legend.
• Andrea Palladio — Shared historical date (08-19 · Died) (1580): Master Renaissance architect whose villas defined the Palladian style.
• Anthony Muñoz — Shared historical date (08-19 · Born) (1958): Legendary offensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals and USC alumnus.
• Bonnie and Clyde — Historical peer (Died in 1934) (1934): Infamous outlaw couple who robbed banks and murdered during the Great Depression.
• Brigitte Bardot — Historical peer (Born in 1934) (1934): Iconic French actress, singer, and passionate animal rights activist.
• A Day at the Races (album) — Historical peer (Born in 1976) (1976): Queen's fifth studio album, a companion piece to A Night at the Opera.
• Adolph Zukor — Historical peer (Died in 1976) (1976): Pioneering Hungarian-American film producer, co-founder of Paramount Pictures.
• 1982 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament — Historical peer (Born in 1982) (1982): The 44th annual NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
• 1934 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1934
• August 19 (08-19) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on August 19