Quotes from Martina Navratilova

My mom told me to cover up my arms ever since I was little because I was muscular. She wanted me to be feminine, which did not come easy to me. My body was what it was, and I worked it to be a better tennis player.

I think men are more adventurous in that they're more likely to take chances. Women play it safe. But now, maybe more of the women that see how it's working for the guys think, 'I can do that, too'. Maybe they'll pick male players, not necessarily female players; it's just whatever that match is that works for that player.

Labels are for filing. Labels are for clothing. Labels are not for people.

Changes made to please others are unrealistic, but more important, they're unfair to you.

Just put one foot in front of the other and don't worry about the length of the path. Once you get on that path, and the longer you stay on it, there eventually will come a time when you will not turn back.

Who ever said, 'It's not whether you win or lose that counts,' probably lost.

Once you start believing in yourself, anything is possible. Once you start believing in yourself, your dreams take shape. The more you believe, the more you achieve.

Everything you do today impacts the next day as well as the future.

Keeping a journal of what's going on in your life is a good way to help you distill what's important and what's not.

What planet are you living on? Who are you trying to convince - me or yourself.

The fewer mistakes you make twice, the easier life is.

The moment of victory is much too short to live for that and nothing else.

I needed to refocus and get my act together.

Whoever said, It's not whether you win or lose that counts, probably lost.

Follow an exercise routine in which there is no routine. Whenever something becomes routine, you don't pay attention to it anymore. I rarely do the same routine twice which keeps me interested and focused.

The moment of victory is too short to live for that alone.

This is reality, not a dream.

Remember this: You are the benchmark of your success - you define it. Don't let anyone else define it because if you do, you will fail. Appreciate those who support you and challenge those who don't

Whoever said 'It's not whether you win or lose that counts' probably lost.

The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs – the chicken is involved; the pig is committed.

It takes a lot of guts to come out to your friends and family. For most gay people, coming out is the most traumatic experience in their life because of the worry about the backlash: 'What's going to happen? Are my parents going to accept me? Are my friends going to accept me? Are my sisters and brothers going to accept me?'

My worst memory is of my first dance lesson as a 14-year old in Prague. My mother put me in this silver and pink lame dress. My hair was all curled, and it was the first time I wore a garter belt. I felt so out of place!

I regret that I had to leave my country. But I had to do it in order to achieve and decide my own fate. I was forced into it. Democracy came about 15 years too late for me. But I have to say that it's there now, and Czech Republic is a fantastic country; it always was but just had the wrong regime at the top.

I never felt I had anything to hide. I never felt being gay was anything to be ashamed of, so I never felt apologetic. I didn't have issues with it, didn't grow up with any religion, so I didn't have any religious, you know, issues to deal with as far as homosexuality is concerned. So, I accepted it very easily. For me, it wasn't that big a deal.