Clare Balding quotes:

Swimming and athletics are the big gigs at the Olympic games. Cycling and rowing are pretty big for Britain, but globally, the two big things are athletics and swimming.

People like to think of you as a certain person, or a certain type of person, and they do love to give you a label. We like luggage labels, and we like people labels.

Being made to feel like an irrelevant child was probably an asset. Benign negligence is not a bad parental attitude or at least a cross between a benevolent dictator and benign negligence - you should just let kids crack on with it.

Sport develops your brain. It helps your learning. It's not an add-on at the end of the day.

You hear the word 'cancer,' and you think it is a death sentence. In fact, the shock is the biggest thing about a diagnosis of cancer.

Having thyroid cancer in 2009 really didn't change my life at all. I wish I could say that I had this epiphany. But I knew I was lucky before that, so it's not like I suddenly realised how lucky I am.

A lot of interviewers are looking for the dark side. They want to know about the depths of your despair and fear.

Fitting in is boring. But it takes you nearly your whole life to work that out.

I find people interesting. People trying hard are interesting. People with a passion are interesting - whether its old cars or taxidermy or knitting.

I find people interesting. People trying hard are interesting. People with a passion are interesting - whether it's old cars or taxidermy or knitting.

If you are fearful, a horse will back off. If you are calm and confident, it will come forward. For those who are often flattered or feared, the horse can be a welcome mirror of the best in human nature.

Dad is a really surprising guy. Every time I think he's going to be useless, he ends up doing something amazing and saying exactly the right thing.

I hate the fact that public schools like the one I went to have fantastic sports facilities, and state schools don't. That's not fair. That's outrageous.

Swimmers provide much healthier role models for teenagers than the catwalk.

I think 'ambitious' is one of those adjectives used for women in a derogatory way.

I really love good food occasionally, but I need time to enjoy it, and I need to be hungry.

I get a lot of abuse on Twitter. It's mostly homophobic, but what can you do? I just either ignore it or laugh.

I've always been fascinated by intelligence and how our brains work, and how they can be improved.

I hate being alone, even for 10 minutes.

Like so many kids, I just wanted to fit in, and I see now that I spent most of my life trying to be what I wasn't, trying to get people to like me.

You come across words all the time that are everyday sexism. I was described as 'competently bossy' and 'bossily competent' by a male journalist, and I thought, 'Gosh, 'bossy' is never used of a man.'

Women's sport helps break down a lot of barriers for women in other areas, whether in religion or politics.

Sports commentating is the answer for a restless brain like mine. I can never get bored because there is an infinite amount to know.

When you're little, your father is your hero. Mine was. Then it all becomes more complicated.

I felt like a misfit at school, and I think that's quite common.

On the beach, I take my clothes off under a towel.

I have never understood the clamour for waif-like women whose flesh acts merely as a thin veil for their bones - much as I would love to be thinner, I would hate to take it so far that I had no actual shape at all.

The British have a unique relationship with horses. They are etched into our landscape in chalk, they have been written about, painted, sung about, celebrated and gambled upon for centuries.

I cannot be a placard waver for every campaign; that's why I have mostly kept quiet about gay marriage.

I am many things, but one of the things I am is a lesbian.

If you look back at British history, women being allowed to play sport in schools meant they had to change their clothing. They couldn't be running around in their long skirts and corsets, because you can't.

I play golf - even though I'm awful at it.

Lots of women don't realize that they're gay until they're grown up.

I have learned not to take too much notice of those who disapprove of my lifestyle choices, because I know that I was not designed to be part of the crowd. If I am different, I make no apology, and I hope that others will have the courage to be themselves and stand up for what they believe in, fight for those who need protection, love who they want to love, and be proud of it.

I want to make the world a better place, for women, mainly.

I believe that horses bring out the best in us. They judge us not by how we look, what we're wearing or how powerful or rich we are, they judge us in terms of sensitivity, consistency, and patience. They demand standards of behavior and levels of kindness that we, as humans, then strive to maintain.

I don't make decisions for money or popularity. I do things because they're right for me, and they're interesting and challenging.

It had become boring to write: 'I like Clare Balding'. To say: 'I don't like Clare Balding' is much more newsworthy.

I think all kids should have something they feels is theirs.

I didn't just grow up with horses; I wanted to be one.

The most important quality in a partner is a sense of humour.

I've never been particularly maternal.