Summary
Broadcaster Qasa Alom chooses the first African-American tennis player to win the US Open and Wimbledon, Arthur Ashe.
Arthur was born in Richmond, Virginia, a state in the US that in 1943 was still part of the segregated south. If Arthur wanted to compete with white players, he had to leave for St Louis and then California to play.
His story is staggering, and not just his success in a notoriously elitist sport. His mother died when he was six, he had a heart attack when he was 36, and he died of AIDS when he was just 49, contracted from a tainted blood confusion.
Film maker and broadcaster Qasa Alom grew up loving Rafa Nadal. Then Ashe's story blew him away.
"In a world where we have so many demonstrative heroes, in sport, in politics, the extrovert who is shouting the loudest often gets heard. There's a really good opportunity here to showcase other ways of being a champion, and Arthur Ashe for me is certainly that person."
Programme contains historic interviews, including Arthur Ashe talking to Anthony Clare for In The Psychiatrists Chair shortly after his first heart attack.
It also includes a new interview with Raymond Arsenault, American author of Arthur Ashe: A Life.
Presenter: Matthew Parris
Producer: Miles Warde
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2023.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Before you listen to this BBC podcast, I'd like to introduce myself. |
| 0:03.7 | My name's Stevie Middleton and I'm a BBC Commissioner for a load of sport podcasts. |
| 0:08.4 | I'm lucky to do that at the BBC because I get to work with a leading journalist, experienced |
| 0:12.2 | pundits and the biggest sport stars. |
| 0:14.3 | Together we bring you untold stories and fascinating insights straight from the players' |
| 0:18.5 | mouths. |
| 0:19.5 | But the best thing about doing this at the BBC is our unique access to the sport world. |
| 0:25.0 | What that means is that we can bring you podcasts that create a real connection to |
| 0:28.8 | dedicated sports fans across the UK. |
| 0:31.2 | So if you like this podcast, head over to BBC Sounds where you'll find plenty more. |
| 0:41.2 | Okay, here we go. Great lives, play the tape. |
| 0:45.6 | So what it is to see a picture of a man who's achieved a dream after all these years, eight times |
| 0:51.6 | he's tried at Wimbledon, man of vision, man of character, and here he is at last the Wimbledon |
| 0:58.2 | champion. |
| 0:59.2 | I really felt as though I was going to win. |
| 1:02.2 | I was predestined somewhat. |
| 1:03.5 | I really felt that. |
| 1:04.5 | I felt that things just seemed to work out. |
| 1:07.7 | Period. |
| 1:08.7 | I was destined to win this one. |
| 1:11.2 | The great Arthur Ash on July the 5th, 1975, reflecting on his victory over Jimmy Connors, |
| 1:18.9 | the brash 22-year-old everyone had nailed on for the win. |
... |
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