Tennis’ Billie Jean King Reveals Her Health Tips at Age 81

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Billie Jean King has tips for making life a Grand Slam. 

As a devoted admirer, I’m ecstatic to share that even though the tennis legend hung up her rackets at 81 back in 1983, she’s still aceing life with an undeniable zest! Over four decades later, she’s still dishing out sass and spirit in every corner of her existence. Just recently, she graciously divulged some secrets on how she’s managed to maintain this incredible energy level.

Right off the bat, the Queen prioritizes following her doctor’s advice regarding fundamental health guidelines. She strives to have a consistent eight hours of sleep, regardless of location, as she shared during her interview with Today, which was published on August 26th. Furthermore, she incorporates tennis into her routine for exercise, aiming for sessions about two or three times a week.

As she put it, “For older adults I think it really helps with balance.”

In terms of her eating habits, King’s strict guideline revolves around minimizing red meat intake whenever possible. However, maintaining a balanced and healthful attitude towards food is what truly matters most to her.

Beyond the essentials, the 39-time Grand Slam champion also prioritizes mental wellness using several proven strategies.

She noted that she encounters individuals in various places, and believes these interactions hold significant value. She expressed a hope that younger generations might spend less time on their devices and instead opt for face-to-face discussions.

One spot where she’s currently making new acquaintances is school. After leaving education in 1964 to focus on her tennis career, the legendary figure later went back to college to complete her degree at California State University, Los Angeles.

“I always wanted to go back and get my degree,” she explained “I hate not finishing!”

Beyond maintaining her mental acuity and social connections, she discovered that going back to school served yet another aspect of her health regimen: it provided a means for leading a life with a sense of purpose.

She emphasized the significance of learning from history, stating that it often recurs and certain conflicts can even follow a pattern.

In King’s perspective, advocating for women’s rights, particularly in the realm of sports, has consistently been a significant mission.

“We have a long way to go,” she noted. “I just want freedom for everybody to pursue their dreams.”

For more sage words on aging from the stars, keep reading… 

She shared with Self magazine, “I don’t see aging as something that makes me look better or worse, but rather as a process that brings change. As you evolve, it’s perfectly fine.

Aging isn’t something you can fight or reverse; we all age, plain and simple. It seems women often view aging as a personal shortcoming, feeling they should have remained 25. I find this perception bizarre because I believe growing older is a privilege, not everyone is fortunate enough to reach that stage.” This was conveyed to Access Hollywood.

In historical context, progress made by women is often met with cultural forces that suppress them. Currently, it seems we’ve come a long way, but societal expectations still restrict women from aging gracefully or appearing pregnant. To me, these standards have only grown more stringent. It’s a cunning method of keeping people in bondage, by making them fear and dislike their own humanity. However, I refuse to let shame about being human dictate my feelings, she shared with the Los Angeles Times.

At the age of forty, she found herself reflecting, “I’ve grown to accept myself better now.” She went on to share that this self-acceptance brought her a great sense of comfort. She expressed these thoughts in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar.

She shared with Popsugar that she is now more content with her body due to the fact that it’s a result of her efforts and hard work. She has developed a healthier relationship with it, even though from an aesthetic perspective, her body was more appealing when she was in her early twenties. However, she didn’t appreciate it back then as she was constantly comparing it to others.

I’m comfortable embracing the effects of time such as gravity and wrinkles, viewing them as a fair exchange for the increased wisdom I’ve gained. Even if my appearance becomes less than ideal with age, sagging breasts or otherwise, I won’t fret over it.” (As she told Bustle)

“F–k you. I’m 50. That’s what I’m going to say when I turn 50. Sorry,” as she told Popsugar. 

In simpler terms, after six decades on Earth, I’ve learned that being fearless holds significant worth. Regrettably, for a large portion of my life, I was overtaken by fear and apprehension. Overcoming this fear is one of my greatest regrets. (This statement was shared with PopSugar.)

She shared with Bustle that when you’re sixteen, twenty-eight seems incredibly old! But once you hit twenty-eight, it’s fantastic. You wonder then, what about forty-two? Not so appealing, right? Yet, forty-two turns out to be great too. As we reach each new age, we acquire the wisdom necessary to appreciate and enjoy it.

“I do think about ageing. I have those moments of panic and vanity, but life keeps getting better, so you can’t worry about it too much,” she told Marie Claire UK.

In simpler terms, she said to Ok! Magazine that while we don’t really experience ‘aging’, it’s more about growing, learning, and wisdom. She finds this growth and accumulation of knowledge to be beautiful, referring to it as a form of beauty.

“Age holds absolutely no fear for me. There is so much enjoyment ahead,” as she told MarieClaire.

She shared her thoughts with Net-a-Porter Magazine, expressing surprise at anyone who wouldn’t acknowledge that women become more attractive as they grow older. She believes that confidence, which often comes with age, plays a significant role in looking beautiful, and this self-confidence shines from within.

Individuals deceiving about their age are essentially hiding the truth, thereby fostering a prevalent issue in our society-the issue of attempting to be someone other than oneself…. I am certain that embracing your true identity is key to fully experiencing life,” she expressed in O Magazine.

The process of aging is beyond our command, but how we respond to it is entirely in our power… In the lines on my aged visage, I see a reflection of my life’s journey. Each wrinkle, each laugh line, each age spot tells a story. It’s often said that as you grow older, your exterior mirrors your interior self. If you’re not prone to smiling, your face may appear droopy. But if you smile frequently, you will surely have more smile lines. Your wrinkles serve as a roadmap of the paths you’ve traveled in life. My face bears witness to the winds, sun, rain, and dust from my travels. It holds all my memories dear. Why should I attempt to efface these?”, she expressed to Vogue.

She shared with Glamour that, over time, as a woman matures, she tends to grow increasingly confident about her sexuality. She’s less likely to be daunted or ashamed by it. Her sexuality and femininity seem to become more robust with age, wisdom, and comfort in her own being.

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2025-08-26 18:18