The only person who can stop you from reaching your goals is you.
Jackie Joyner-KerseeRead
Ask any athlete: We all hurt at times. I'm asking my body to go through seven different tasks. To ask it not to ache would be too much.
Interpretation
Pain and discomfort are part of the journey in achieving greatness.
Jackie Joyner-Kersee's quote emphasizes that physical pain and discomfort are inevitable when striving to excel, particularly in athletics. It highlights the idea that pushing one's body to its limits is a necessary part of achieving success, and expecting to be free from aches and pains is unrealistic for those who pursue high-level performance.
In practice
During a motivational speech at a sports event.
The only person who can stop you from reaching your goals is you.
Winning is great, but being able to finish my last Olympic Games on American soil was very important. Even though I was injured, I didn't let my psyche get the best of me and cause me to doubt myself, so I was willing to pull every muscle in my body in '96 in order to get the job done and I came away with the bronze medal.
We live in a world where sports have the potential to bridge the gap between racism, sexism and discrimination. The 2012 Olympic Games was a great start but hopefully what these games taught us is that if women are given an opportunity on an equal playing field the possibilities for women are endless.
The 2012 London Olympic Games fostered a generation of hope. I witnessed women participating for the very first time, representing every nation.
It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret.
I set my sights on making an Olympic team, not realizing how tough it was going to be.
I was a very shy character, always feeling uncomfortable because everybody was stronger than I, and always afraid I would look like a sissy. Everybody else played baseball; everybody else did all kinds of athletic things.
Even behind prison walls I can see the heavy clouds and the blue sky over the horizon
If the Lord comes and burns - as you say he will - I am not going away; I am going to stay here and stand the fire, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! And Jesus will walk with me through the fire and keep me from harm.
It bothers them that instead of taking on the role of abandoned lover, I have become a happy wife. They relish seeing strong women like you and me humiliated. They cannot forgive us that we triumphed where so many others fail...Courage is a virtue appreciated in a male but considered a defect in our gender. Bold women are a threat to a world that is out of balance, in favor of men. That is why they work so hard to mistreat and destroy us.
I'm not scared of many things in front of the camera. Everywhere else, yes, I'm terrified. But acting is just pretending, and you are exploring feelings in a safe environment.
The greatest mistake a person can make is to be afraid of making one.
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