In sport, if you want to be the best you have to compete against the best - I would much rather have come tenth and be judged against everyone than c….

It's good to be difficult to know. Too many people are too easy to know..

What used to drive me was the fact that I wanted to be better than everybody at something. One of my best qualities is that I used whatever other peo….

Los Angeles was great fun because it was the polar opposite of Moscow in 1980. It was sunny and bright, lots of colours around, whereas Moscow was da….

There's no day when I don't think it would be great to be 25 years old and have the Olympics coming in less than 300 days - and be the best in the wo….

There are lots of women tennis players, for instance, but because not many of them seem to have much personality, they're interchangeable. You don't ….

If you work hard in real life, people tend to get in your way - either from inertia or prejudice - and they stop you achieving things. It's the worst….

When I lost my decathlon world record I took it like a man. I only cried for ten hours..

I don't even have my own computer..

You can be an Olympic champion in 9.5 secs, but to be the greatest, there's more to it. It takes a bit of forethought and a lot of mental application..

Ever since I was a kid, whatever situation I was presented with, I always made the most of it..

Being a decathlete is like having ten girlfriends. You have to love them all, and you can't afford losing one..

During a photo-call with fellow Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew- Pity Steve Ovett didn't show up. Then we could have had the good, the bald and….

Sometimes you have to resist working on your strengths in favour of your weaknesses. The decathlon requires a wide range of skills..

I'm competitive - that's what defines me - and I love it..

If you don't want to grow old, then slow down the slowing down process..

Sport fosters many things that are good; teamwork and leadership..

I tend to eat vegetables only when I'm with the kids and the rest of the time, I'm a bit slack. But, I am weight-conscious, so I concentrate on avoid….

I am an education ambassador, mainly working with schools..

The only limitations are mental. The guy who thinks positively will win..

Having the ambition of becoming Olympic champion is a whole different ambition from wanting to be the greatest..