Serena Williams is the GOAT of women’s tennis. She’s won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most of the modern era. And she did so with one of the most muscular feminine physiques ever seen on a Wimbledon court. As Williams, in her words, “evolves away” from competitive tennis, The Barbell salutes her incredible career and physique with her best motivational quotes, able to inspire you in the gym, on the court, and everywhere else.
โThink of all the girls who could become top athletes but quit sports because theyโre afraid of having too many defined muscles and being made fun of or called unattractive.โ
โI donโt like to lose, at anything, yet Iโve grown most not from victories, but setbacks. If winning is Godโs reward, then losing is how He teaches us.โ
โI am lucky that whatever fear I have inside me, my desire to win is always stronger.โ
โWith a defeat, when you lose, you get up, you make it better, you try again. Thatโs what I do in life, when I get down, when I get sick, I donโt want to just stop. I keep going and I try to do more. Everyone always says never give up but you really have to take that to heart and really do never definitely give up. Keep trying.โ
โYou can be whatever size you are, and you can be beautiful both inside and out. Weโre always told whatโs beautiful and whatโs not, and thatโs not right.โ
โI always believe I can beat the best, achieve the best. I always see myself in the top position.โ
โYou have to believe in yourself when no one else does.โ
โI really think a champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover when they fall.โ
“Everyone’s dream can come true if you just stick to it and work hard.”
“If Plan A isn’t working, I have Plan B, Plan C, and even Plan D.”
“Iโm a perfectionist. Iโm pretty much insatiable. I feel thereโs so many things I can improve on.”
“Don’t let anyone work harder than you do.”
“To this day, I donโt love my arms. People want more fit arms, but my arms are too fit. But Iโm not complaining. They pay my bills.”
“If I don’t get it right, I don’t stop until I do.”
โSince I donโt look like every other girl, it takes a while to be okay with that, to be different. But different is good.โ
“Overpower. Overtake. Overcome.”
โIโve learned to love me. Iโve been like this my whole life and I embrace me. I love how I look. I am a full woman and Iโm strong, and Iโm powerful, and Iโm beautiful at the same time.โ
โEverything comes at a cost. Just what are you willing to pay for it?โ
โLuck has nothing to do with it, because I have spent many, many hours, countless hours, on the court working for my one moment in time, not knowing when it would come.โ
โI think in life you should work on yourself until the day you die.โ
