Athletic Dedication Quotes

My overwhelming concern will always be the well-being of the athletes. In Olympic sport, it is rare for competitors not to devote half their young life to this. Their families will have given up all sorts of things to allow them to do that.

It is the inspiration of the Olympic Games that drives people not only to compete but to improve, and to bring lasting spiritual and moral benefits to the athlete and inspiration to those lucky enough to witness the athletic dedication.

Over the years, I've made many sacrifices to win two Olympic gold medals and put together winning streaks that will never be broken.

What drove me to become the world's greatest bodybuilder is no different from what drives other athletes to become great tennis players or boxers or jockeys.

I've been playing this position since I was about 9 years old. For me, it's just, 'Come out here and be the best quarterback I can be.'

When I am not playing or training, I watch football all the time.

Hey fellas! This is what you work all off season for. This is why you lift all them weights! This is why you do all that!

...Competitive Skaters must be prepared for a lot of work, challenges, self-discipline, and motivation. The desire must be there, but more importantly, your love for the sport.

I simply scraped together all my experience and put it into the sport.

Back in my mind, I never, ever wanted to give up swimming; it was something that I would carry on with.

I worked hard when I played for Manchester City, Bolton, even in Fenerbahce.

I don't really care who I play for. I just want to play ball.

I'm addicted to football. When I get outside, I just want to stay on the training pitch.

Words can't even describe how much Olympic medals means to me, because of all the hard work, sacrifice and effort I put in at the gym, and also because of how much my family supported me and sacrificed their dreams for mine. It also means a lot to me, knowing that I became the first African American to win the individual all-around gold medal.

As I always say - you have no feelings when you are on the pitch. You are there to play, to give the best for your team.

I don't think anyone chooses the decathlon as much as it chooses you.

I wasn't concerned with the money stuff; I only wanted to play football.

I've been lucky enough to always recognize to leave stuff on the court, on the court.

Look at how many North Carolina kids have played for me or tried out for me or coached with me. I've had Dennis Wuycik, Steve Previs, Billy Chamberlain, Donald Washington, Darrell Elston, Tommy LaGarde, Bobby Jones. You name it, I've had them. Whatever Coach has ever asked me to do, I've done. Because I love the school, and I worship him.

I think when you're not in the NFL or when you're early in your career, you don't understand how hard guys work, especially the guys that play a long time and are successful.

In any football I have played in - and I have played in League One and as an international at the World Cup - the bare minimum is running around and showing the desire for the shirt. Then, the higher you go up the leagues, your football takes control of that.

Of course, when you're training your whole life to get to the Olympics, you train for gold.

Some players don't like training and I've seen some players who aren't bothered if they play or not. But I want to play every game. Sometimes you have to rest in certain games, but I want to play in every game.

Having that Christian base keeps me focused on what I have to do. It keeps me out of the clubs and in the gym.

I got into pro ball at 18 and played until I was almost 39, non-stop.