Athlete Motivational Sayings and Quotes

Below you will find our collection of inspirational, wise, and humorous old athlete motivational quotes, athlete motivational sayings, and athlete motivational proverbs, collected over the years from a variety of sources.

Never say never because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion. Michael Jordan
Being an athlete, you know how to train and prepare your body for a performance and you're able to do it under pressure. Kristi Yamaguchi
A trophy carries dust. Memories last forever. Mary Lou Retton
Competing at the highest level is the greatest test of one's character. Russell Mark
There may be people that have more talent than you, but there's no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do. Derek Jeter
One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent. Marilyn vos Savant
The hardest skill to acquire in this sport is the one where you compete all out, give it all you have, and you are still getting beat no matter what you do. When you have the killer instinct to fight through that, it is very special. Eddie Reese
Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you. Arnold Palmer
Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever. Lance Armstrong
Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up. Dean Karnazes
To succeed, you need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you. Tony Dorsett
Never let the fear of striking out get in your way. Babe Ruth
The five S's of sports training are: stamina, speed, strength, skill, and spirit; but the greatest of these is spirit. Ken Doherty
Your biggest opponent isn't the other guy. It's human nature. Bobby Knight
You are never really playing an opponent. You are playing yourself, your own highest standards, and when you reach your limits, that is real joy. Arthur Ashe
Set your goals high, and don't stop till you get there. Bo Jackson
If you can believe it, the mind can achieve it. Ronnie Lott
Without self-discipline, success is impossible, period. Lou Holtz
What you lack in talent can be made up with desire, hustle, and giving 110 percent all the time. Don Zimmer
Follow your dreams, work hard, practice and persevere. Make sure you eat a variety of foods, get plenty of exercise and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Sasha Cohen
Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion. The potential for greatness lives within each of us. Wilma Rudolph
Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Success for an athlete follows many years of hard work and dedication. Michael Diamond
Never let your head hang down. Never give up and sit down and grieve. Find another way. Satchel Paige
The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's determination. Tommy Lasorda
Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds. Orison Swett Marden
A winner is a loser who was willing to fail and get up, fail and get up, fail and get up, fail and get up and win. Peter Zafra
You have to believe in yourself when no one else does, that makes you a winner right there. Venus Williams
What do do with a mistake: recognize it, admit it, learn from it, forget it. Dean Smith
The only one who can tell you ‘you can't' is you. And you don't have to listen. Nike
People do not lack strength; they lack will. Victor Hugo
You've got to take the initiative and play your game. In a decisive set, confidence is the difference. Chris Evert
Only he who can see the invisible can do the impossible. Frank L. Gaines
Push yourself again and again. Don't give an inch until the final buzzer sounds. Larry Bird
Never give up, never give in, and when the upper hand is ours, may we have the ability to handle the win with the dignity that we absorbed the loss. Doug Williams
The man who cannot believe in himself cannot believe in anything else. The basis of all integrity and character is whatever faith we have in our own integrity. Roy L. Smith
Gold medals aren't really made of gold. They're made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts. Dan Gable
Somewhere behind the athlete you've become and the hours of practice and the coaches who have pushed you is a little girl who fell in love with the game and never looked back play for her. Mia Hamm
Concentration is why some athletes are better than others. You develop that concentration in training and concentrate in a meet. Edwin Moses
An athlete cannot run with money in his pockets. He must run with hope in his heart and dreams in his head. Emil Zatopek
You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them. Michael Jordan
Suffer the pain of discipline or suffer the pain of regret. Anonymous
How you respond to the challenge in the second half will determine what you become after the game, whether you are a winner or a loser. Lou Holtz
Age is no barrier. It's a limitation you put on your mind. Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Just keep going. Everybody gets better if they keep at it. Ted Williams
Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. Michael Jordan
It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get up. Vince Lombardi
Never give up! Failure and rejection are only the first step to succeeding. Jim Valvano
The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory. Les Brown