10 episodes
Untold Legends BBC Podcasts
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- Society & Culture
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4.3 • 79 Ratings
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Ora Washington: The champion the world ignored. You might know this tennis and basketball star, were it not for the colour of her skin.
Renee Montgomery investigates Ora’s story.
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Season 1 trailer: Ora
The Queen of two courts. Ora Washington is the star the world ignored. It’s time everyone knew her name. Ora was a black tennis champion in the era of racial segregation in the United States. She was a basketball star too.
Hosted by Renee Montgomery, former basketball player, the co-owner of the WNBA team, Atlanta Dream and a self-described “sports history geek”.
Discover Ora’s story from 29 August 2022. -
1. An empty chair
Who was Ora Washington? The southern farm girl who wanted more. But recognition came too late – why was the guest of honour at a star-studded event missing? Ora was a brilliant tennis and basketball player who fought to make her name in racially segregated America. We find out about her early life in Virginia. Please note, this episode contains some outdated language that may offend. #UntoldLegends
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2. A radical statement
“She loved to compete”: Ora takes her first tennis lesson. But race, sex and class prejudice stand in her way. It’s the 1920s and Ora has gone north to Philadelphia – a city of opportunity and danger. Racial tensions are high in her neighbourhood. What motivates her to start playing the so-called ‘gentleman’s game’? Please note, this episode contains some outdated language that may offend. #UntoldLegends
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3. Advantage Ora
Can she beat the best? Ora is the underdog against the crowd favourite, the formidable Isadora “Izzy” Channels of Chicago. It’s a brutally hot day in Harlem and the mood is tense. Everything is at stake. If Ora wins, she joins the black tennis elite. Please note, this episode contains some outdated language that may offend. #UntoldLegends
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4. Queen of two courts
Basketball beckons. The elite tennis player tries a new sport – and it’s a crowd puller. Ora’s quickness and agility translate to the basketball court, as her career takes off in tandem with tennis. But does America have room for a true queen of two courts? Please note, this episode contains some outdated language that may offend. #UntoldLegends
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5. Playing like a ‘real woman’
Ora is at the peak of her sports, but off the court, stars are expected to appear “sufficiently feminine”. If you didn’t, you faced prejudice.
Please note, this episode contains some outdated language that may offend.
This episode was updated on 29 September 2022, to correct some information about the basketball coach, Joe Rainey
#UntoldLegends
Customer Reviews
Asante sana!
Thank you for this fantastic series. Informative and well told. My boys (12 and 9) and I listened on the way to school. There was silence in the car which means they were paying a lot of attention. Two thumbs from Kenya!
Great forgotten story
It was a great story very well told by Renee Montgomery! Would love to hear about more athletes like this.
Love the story of Ora
Truly an sm zing women.