My dad would tell me to play for those who couldn’t play. Play for physical disability. So my motivation is for people who struggle in life daily.
—Misty May-Treanor, two-time beach volleyball Olympic gold medalist
Falling in life is inevitable—staying down is optional.
—Carrie Johnson, two-time Olympic kayaker
If you think you can’t, you wont, and if you think you can, you will.” When I’m tired at practice, I tell myself that I’m not tired and I can push through it. If you tell yourself you’re tired or if you tell yourself you’re sick, your body is going to follow the mind.
—Kellie Wells, 2011 USA indoor and outdoor 100m hurdles champion
I always tell myself to keep on fighting. I wasn’t always a good diver—I had to work my way up to where I am now. If I had given up I wouldn’t be in the position I am today and I would have so many regrets.
—Christina Loukas, nine-time national diving champion and first-time Olympian
The greatest memory for me of the 1984 Olympics was not the individual honors, but standing on the podium with my teammates to receive our team gold medal.
– Mitch Gaylord,American gymnast and Olympic gold medalist
If you don’t try to win you might as well hold the Olympics in somebody’s back yard.
– Jesse Owens,American Athlete, 4 time Gold Medalist in Track and Field at the 1936 Olympic Games, 1913-1980
