I did not want to be the best black man of the year; I wanted to be the best man of the year.
Interpretation
The quote reflects the desire to be recognized for one's overall character and achievements rather than being defined by race.
Daley Thompson's quote emphasizes the importance of being acknowledged for one's qualities and accomplishments as a person, rather than being limited or categorized by race. It speaks to a universal aspiration to achieve greatness and integrity that transcends racial boundaries, advocating for the recognition of individuals based on their merit and humanity.
In practice
This quote could be used in a motivational speech about overcoming societal barriers.
I was in the doldrums for a while after my athletics career ended in 1992. I spent six to eight hours a day training, for 18 years, and it took a long time to get over the regret that I wasn't competing in major championships any more. All I ever wanted to be was the best. But I find new projects and I keep things in perspective.
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 come first and be judged against just a few.
Being a decathlete is like having ten girlfriends. You have to love them all, and you can't afford losing one.
I wouldn't swap the era I competed in for anything, not a day of it. I started out as an amateur, and people like myself, Seb Coe, Steve Ovett, Steve Cram, Tessa Sanderson and the rest did it for the glory of winning medals for our country.
We know it well that none of us acting alone can achieve success.
The career of a great man remains an enduring monument of human energy. The man dies and disappears, but his thoughts and acts survive and leave an indelible stamp upon his race.
You can't find returns in investments you haven't made.
You get rich through luck. You get rich through crime. You get rich through fulfilling the needs of another. You can be as greedy as you like. If you can't do one of those three things, you ain't going to get any money.
I celebrate a victory when I start walking off the field. By the time I get to the locker room, I'm done.
Failure is success in progress
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