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.
Interpretation
The speaker expresses regret for not being open about their identity sooner, highlighting the personal journey and challenges faced by others.
In this quote, Ian Thorpe reflects on his experience of coming out and the feelings of shame he has for not doing it earlier. He acknowledges the personal struggle involved in accepting one's truth and emphasizes that everyone has their own journey, hoping that by sharing his own story, he can make it easier for others facing similar challenges.
In practice
In a motivational speech about embracing one's true self.
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.
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
We all know fear. But passion makes us fearless.
I started calling anti-child labor organizations, asking how I could help. They told me a kid couldn't make any difference, so I decided to start a movement for young people to fight child labor, and to prove them wrong.
I sometimes wish I were suffering in a good cause, or risking my life for the good of others, instead of just being a gravely endangered patient.
We do this in order to slow down aggression. We do this to increase the confidence of the brave people of South Vietnam who have bravely born this brutal battle for so many years with so many casualties. And we do this to convince the leaders of North Vietnam-and all who seek to share their conquest-of a simple fact: We will not be defeated. We will not grow tired. We will not withdraw either openly or under the cloak of a meaningless agreement.
Regardless of what barriers confront you, it is in your power to free yourselves; you have only to want to.
I believe that movements to suppress wrongs can be carried out under the protection of our flag.
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