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Billie Jean King Quotes

28 Inspiring Quotes By Billie Jean King That Will Help You Defy All Odds

Famous As: One of the Greatest Tennis Players of All Time

Born On: 1943

Born In: Long Beach, California, United States

Age: 81 Years

Billie Jean King is a former American top-ranked tennis player and inspiring activist. She was born in a family of athletes as her father was a former basketball player and her brother played for a renowned basketball team. She was also encouraged towards sports from an early age and after playing a couple of games she started playing tennis at an early age of 11. She kicked off her professional career by winning the ‘Southern California Championship’ for her age, which helped her receive coaching from a former women’s tennis player. Initially, she lost many matches but soon came up with the first most notable victory when she collaborated with Karen Hantze Susman to win the ‘Wimbledon Women’s Doubles’. This marked the beginning of her successful career as she won various renowned championships to grab the No. 1 position on the Women’s Tennis. During this period she was a star player and one of the top-paid women athletes. This could not stop her from fighting for her low paid peers and she formed the ‘Women's Tennis Association’. This association successfully pressurized the government to match the pay of the women players to that of men. Besides that, this tennis legend has always voiced her thoughts on gender equality and social justice on various platforms. Following are some motivational and thought-provoking quotes and sayings by Billie Jean King that are sure to empower all those who are willing to break all barriers that block their way of success.

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Sportspersons

Champions keep playing until they get it right.

Champions keep playing until they get it right.
Billie Jean King

A champion is afraid of losing. Everyone else is afraid of winning.

A champion is afraid of losing. Everyone else is afraid of winning.
Billie Jean King

Any therapist will tell you that when you're ready, you will come out. To be outed means you weren't ready.

Any therapist will tell you that when you're ready, you will come out. To be outed means you weren't ready.
You Will
Billie Jean King

Be bold. If you're going to make an error, make a doozy, and don't be afraid to hit the ball.

Be bold. If you're going to make an error, make a doozy, and don't be afraid to hit the ball.
You
Billie Jean King

Men can have a huge turnover of sponsorship and still survive a lot better than the women. But the women's ratings are better, at least at home in the United States than in the men's tennis.

Men can have a huge turnover of sponsorship and still survive a lot better than the women. But the women's ratings are better, at least at home in the United States than in the men's tennis.
Home Women
Billie Jean King

That is where the power, opportunity, and choice come from-when you have money. Money equals opportunity. There is no question.

That is where the power, opportunity, and choice come from-when you have money. Money equals opportunity. There is no question.
You Money Power
Billie Jean King

I used to be told if I talked about my sexuality in any way that we wouldn't have a tennis tour.

I used to be told if I talked about my sexuality in any way that we wouldn't have a tennis tour.
I
Billie Jean King

A girl didn't get an athletic scholarship until the fall of 1972 for the very first time.

A girl didn't get an athletic scholarship until the fall of 1972 for the very first time.
Time
Billie Jean King

I wanted to use sports for social change.

I wanted to use sports for social change.
Change I
Billie Jean King

In 1973, women got 59 cents on the dollar; now we are getting 74 cents on the dollar. In the area of finance and business, we are at 68 cents on the dollar.

In 1973, women got 59 cents on the dollar; now we are getting 74 cents on the dollar. In the area of finance and business, we are at 68 cents on the dollar.
Business Women
Billie Jean King

It's just really important that we start celebrating our differences. Let's start tolerating first, but then we need to celebrate our differences.

It's just really important that we start celebrating our differences. Let's start tolerating first, but then we need to celebrate our differences.
Need
Billie Jean King

Sports teaches you character, it teaches you to play by the rules, it teaches you to know what it feels like to win and lose-it teaches you about life.

Sports teaches you character, it teaches you to play by the rules, it teaches you to know what it feels like to win and lose-it teaches you about life.
You Life Like Character
Billie Jean King

They're not put on earth to be martyrs; they have to want to come out. It depends on your culture, where you work, where you live. Each person's circumstances are unique.

They're not put on earth to be martyrs; they have to want to come out. It depends on your culture, where you work, where you live. Each person's circumstances are unique.
You Culture
Billie Jean King

When they take surveys of women in business, of the Fortune 500, the successful women, 80% of them, say they were in sports as a young woman.

When they take surveys of women in business, of the Fortune 500, the successful women, 80% of them, say they were in sports as a young woman.
Business Women Young
Billie Jean King

Victory is fleeting. Losing is forever.
Billie Jean King

Women's sports is still in its infancy. The beginning of women's sports in the United States started in 1972, with the passage of Title 9 for girls to finally get athletic scholarships.

Women's sports is still in its infancy. The beginning of women's sports in the United States started in 1972, with the passage of Title 9 for girls to finally get athletic scholarships.
Women
Billie Jean King

Women get the attention when we get into the men's arena, and that's sad.

Women get the attention when we get into the men's arena, and that's sad.
Women
Billie Jean King

The main thing is to care. Care very hard, even if it is only a game you are playing.

The main thing is to care. Care very hard, even if it is only a game you are playing.
You
Billie Jean King

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.

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.
Change I
Billie Jean King

I think self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion.

I think self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion.
Think I
Billie Jean King

I always liked co-ed events best so we have two men and two women on each team.

I always liked co-ed events best so we have two men and two women on each team.
Women I
Billie Jean King

I think it's impossible to judge whether another person should come out. You just hope they will on their own time and their own terms.

I think it's impossible to judge whether another person should come out. You just hope they will on their own time and their own terms.
You Think Time Will Hope I
Billie Jean King

It is very hard to be a female leader. While it is assumed that any man, no matter how tough, has a soft side... and female leader is assumed to be one-dimensional.

It is very hard to be a female leader. While it is assumed that any man, no matter how tough, has a soft side... and female leader is assumed to be one-dimensional.
Billie Jean King

I think younger players probably just think they are who they are-they don't think about coming out. Unless you're number one in the world, nobody cares, usually.

I think younger players probably just think they are who they are-they don't think about coming out. Unless you're number one in the world, nobody cares, usually.
You Think I
Billie Jean King

Sometimes you have to be satisfied. You try hard enough. Don't be so self-critical; don't be so hard on yourself. (Shape your Self by M. Navratilova)

Sometimes you have to be satisfied. You try hard enough. Don't be so self-critical; don't be so hard on yourself. (Shape your Self by M. Navratilova)
You Yourself
Billie Jean King

Tennis is a perfect combination of violent action taking place in an atmosphere of total tranquility.

Tennis is a perfect combination of violent action taking place in an atmosphere of total tranquility.
Billie Jean King

Everyone has people in their lives that are gay, lesbian or transgender or bisexual. They may not want to admit it, but I guarantee they know somebody.

Everyone has people in their lives that are gay, lesbian or transgender or bisexual. They may not want to admit it, but I guarantee they know somebody.
I
Billie Jean King