For myself, losing is not coming second. It's getting out of the water knowing you could have done better. For myself, I have won every race I've been in
Ian ThorpeRead
When I go out and race, I'm not trying to beat opponents, I'm trying to beat what I have done ... to beat myself, basically. People find that hard to believe because we've had such a bias to always strive to win things. If you win something and you haven't put everything into it, you haven't actually achieved anything at all. When you've had to work hard for something and you've got the best you can out of yourself on that given day, that's where you get satisfaction from.
Interpretation
The essence of true achievement lies in self-improvement rather than competition with others.
In this quote, Ian Thorpe emphasizes that the key to personal satisfaction in racing and life is not about defeating others, but instead about surpassing one's own previous efforts and striving for personal excellence. He highlights the importance of hard work and dedication, indicating that true success is measured by one's own growth and the effort put forth, rather than just the external validation of winning.
In practice
This quote could be used during a motivational speech at a sports event to encourage athletes to focus on their personal best.
For myself, losing is not coming second. It's getting out of the water knowing you could have done better. For myself, I have won every race I've been in
The only thing is I am a little bit ashamed of is I didn't come out earlier, that I didn't have the strength to do it, the courage to break that lie. But everyone goes on their own path to do this, and I don't want the struggle to be so hard for other people.
I probably hold the distinction of being one movie star who, by all laws of logic, should never have made it. At each stage of my career, I lacked the experience.
Winning 'Motor Trend' Car of the year is probably the closest thing to winning the Oscar or Emmy of the car industry.
The two most important requirements for major success are: first, being in the right place at the right time, and second, doing something about it.
When a great man has some one object in view to be achieved in a given time, it may be absolutely necessary for him to walk out of all the common roads.
It's very easy to confuse confident motion with being productive - and they're not the same thing. Productive to me means measurable outcomes that apply to my most important to-dos that positively affect my life. That's it.
Maybe people will remember me for being a stylist, not a survivor.
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