The only person who can stop you from reaching your goals is you.
Jackie Joyner-KerseeRead
I set my sights on making an Olympic team, not realizing how tough it was going to be.
Interpretation
The quote reflects the determination to achieve ambitious goals, despite underestimating the challenges ahead.
Jackie Joyner-Kersee's quote emphasizes the importance of setting high aspirations, such as making an Olympic team, while also acknowledging that one may not fully grasp the difficulties involved in pursuing such lofty objectives. It highlights a common experience where enthusiasm and ambition might overshadow the reality of the hard work and perseverance required to overcome obstacles in the journey toward success.
In practice
In a motivational speech to aspiring athletes, this quote can be used to inspire them to chase their dreams.
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.
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.
It's easier to pick off a fast runner than to pick off a lazy runner.
If you don't feel you're reaching something new, then don't do it.
My whole life, people have doubted me. My mom did. People told me in high school I'm too short and not fast enough to play basketball. They didn't know my story. Because if they did, they'd know that anything is possible.
If there's a job to be done, I always ask the busiest man in my parish to take it on and it gets done.
You start in bars and then restaurants, then you want to get into comedy clubs where you feature, then you headline, and once you sell out clubs you're into theaters. I've been able to get there, and it's cool to do that.
There is no substitute for hard work. If you're looking for the easy way, if you're looking for the trick, you might get by for a while, but you will not be developing the talents that lie within you. There is simply no substitute for work.
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