Retiring was scary and it was tough to give up gymnastics, but so many great opportunities have come from it that I never expected.
Shawn JohnsonRead
To have any doubt in your body is the biggest weakness an athlete can have. There are times when I physically can't get myself to go for a skill because I'm thinking, 'My knee hurts really bad.'
Interpretation
What this quote means
Doubt can undermine an athlete's performance and confidence in their abilities.
In this quote, Shawn Johnson emphasizes the detrimental impact of doubt on an athlete's performance. The mental struggle often stems from physical discomfort, which can create barriers that prevent athletes from fully engaging in their skills, illustrating the interplay between mind and body in achieving peak performance.
Themes
DoubtAthletePerformanceMindsetMotivation
In practice
Example use cases
During a sports motivational talk to encourage young athletes to overcome their fears.
More from Shawn Johnson
All quotes →Gymnastics has made me strong. I feel like it broke me down to my lowest point, but at the same time, it has given me the greatest strength anyone could ask for.
Shawn JohnsonRead
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