Esther Williams

The wisdom acquired with the passage of time is a useless gift unless you share it.

Somehow I kept my head above water. I relied on the discipline, character, and strength that I had started to develop as that little girl in her first swimming pool.

Life magazine ran a page featuring me and three other girls that was clearly the precursor of Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues.

The newspapers loved pinup pictures of pretty young swimmers, and as a national champion, I got more than my share of space in the sports pages.

Three events. Three gold medals. I was news, big news, in the sports world.

My training in Science of Mind had begun with my mother. She took me to a different church every Sunday, and she encouraged me to question the minister afterward.

Marriage to Fernando offered shelter and security, but the shackle was the price I'd pay.

By the time I got home at night, my eyes were so chlorinated I saw rings around every light.

What the public expects and what is healthy for an individual are two very different things.

I think it's so funny when people think they can't control a movie star. They can. We're just women, you know.

When you're out of sight for as long as I was, there's a funny feeling of betrayal that comes over people when they see you again.