The only person who can stop you from reaching your goals is you.
Jackie Joyner-KerseeRead
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.
Interpretation
Winning is important, but finishing strong despite challenges is even more significant.
This quote emphasizes the value of perseverance and mental strength in the face of adversity. Jackie Joyner-Kersee reflects on her Olympic experience, highlighting that achieving success is not just about winning but also about the determination to push through physical limitations and doubts, demonstrating resilience and commitment to one's goals.
In practice
In a motivational speech about overcoming obstacles.
The only person who can stop you from reaching your goals is you.
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.
There are many women who came before me who didn't really have the same opportunities that I have had. That's why I always wanted to be a great ambassador - not only today's generation - but for the women who really didn't have a voice, but who paved the way for me.
Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages.
Belief in yourself is what happens when you know you've done the thing things that entitle you to success.
It's my experience that people rise to the level of their own expectations and of the competition they seek out.
I'd rather be a could-be if I cannot be an are; because a could-be is a maybe who is reaching for a star. I'd rather be a has-been than a might-have-been, by far; for a might have-been has never been, but a has was once an are.
The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls looking like hard work.
Why shoot for the moon? It matters because when you try to do something radically hard, you approach the problem differently than when you try to make something incrementally better.
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