Ever since that day when I was 11 years old, and I wasn't allowed in a photo because I wasn't wearing a tennis skirt, I knew that I wanted to change the sport.
Billie Jean KingRead
It's really impossible for athletes to grow up. On the one hand, you're still a child, still playing a game. But on the other hand, you're a superhuman hero that everyone dreams of being. No wonder we have such a hard time understanding who we are.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Athletes face a unique struggle between their childhood innocence and the expectations of being role models.
This quote reflects the paradox that athletes experience as they navigate their careers; they maintain the playfulness of childhood while simultaneously embodying the ideals of superhuman excellence. This dual identity can lead to confusion about their self-perception and societal expectations, causing challenges in understanding their true selves amidst public adoration and pressure.
Themes
AthletesIdentityExpectationsChildhoodSuperhuman
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be shared at a sports seminar discussing the mental challenges athletes face.
More from Billie Jean King
All quotes →Tennis taught me so many lessons in life. One of the things it taught me is that every ball that comes to me, I have to make a decision. I have to accept responsibility for the consequences every time I hit a ball.
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A champion is afraid of losing. Everyone else is afraid of winning.
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Natural talent only determines the limits of your athletic potential. It's dedication and a willingness to discipline your life that makes you great.
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I feel that tennis is an art form that is capable of moving the players and the audience - at least a knowledgeable audience-in almost sensual ways. When I'm performing at my absolute best, I think that some of the euphoria I feel must be transmitted to the audience.
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I like putting money back into what made my life, and tennis has been great to me.
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