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.
Christ wants not nibblers of the possible, but grabbers of the impossible, by faith in the omnipotence, fidelity, and wisdom of the Almighty Saviour Who gave the command. Is there a wall in our path? By our God we will leap over it! Are there lions and scorpions in our way? We will trample them under our feet! Does a mountain bar our progress? Saying, 'Be thou cast into the sea,' we will march on. Soldiers of Jesus! Never surrender!
We must constantly encourage ourselves and each other to attempt the heretical actions that our dreams imply and so many of our old ideas disparage.
It's not how hard you hit. It's how hard you get hit... and keep moving forward.
If you concern yourself with your neighbor’s talents, you’ll neglect your own. But if you concern yourself with yours, you could inspire both!
Believe you can and you're halfway there.
If you don't follow through on your dreams, you might as well be a vegetable.
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