Tennis legend Billie Jean King says President Barack Obama's decision to send 3 openly gay athletes to the Winter Olympics conveys a powerful message to Russia.

King, hockey player Caitlin Cahow and Olympic figure skater Brian Boitano are part of a 10-person delegation which will represent the United States during the Olympic Games to be held next month in Sochi, Russia.

Russia has been criticized by the international community over a controversial law banning the promotion of “gay propaganda” to minors.

“When we step off the plane we are part of America,” King said Thursday during an appearance on NBC's TODAY show. “We are what an America looks like. So I think President Obama has done an amazing job on promoting diversity and inclusion. He has been the all-time president for doing that. And he's showing the Russians, 'Listen everybody belongs in the United States of America.'”

(Watch the entire segment at TODAY's website.)