13 gold medal motivating quotes from Olympic champs

USA's Wilma Rudolph, Clarksville, Tenn., hits the tape to win the gold medal in the women's 4 x 100-meter relay at the Summer Olympics in Rome, Sept. 8, 1960.
USA's Wilma Rudolph, Clarksville, Tenn., hits the tape to win the gold medal in the women's 4 x 100-meter relay at the Summer Olympics in Rome, Sept. 8, 1960.

If you're looking for a kick in the pants to jump-start change, look no further than prime-time. With the hours of hard work, sweat, sacrifice, tears, and eventual triumph, the Winter Games are as juicy as daytime soaps and far more edifying. Because when you're looking to change something in your life, to be the best version of yourself, and to take things to the next level, who better than a world-class athlete to shine a light on the way?

  • "The potential for greatness lives within each of us." --Wilma Rudolph, former Olympic track and field

  • "Ingenuity plus courage plus work equals miracles." --Bob Richards, former Olympic pole vaulting champion

  • "The only way to overcome is to hang in." --Dan O'Brien , former Olympic Decathlon athlete

  • "Focus, discipline, hard work, goal setting and, of course, the thrill of finally achieving your goals. These are all lessons in life." --Kristi Yamaguchi, former Olympic figure skating champion

  • "A trophy carries dust. Memories last forever." --Mary Lou Retton, former Olympic gymnast

  • "Everything that I've ever been able to accomplish in skating and in life has come out of adversity and perseverance." --Scott Hamilton, former Olympic figure skating champion

  • "Never put an age limit on your dreams" --Dara Torres, Olympic swimming champion

  • "Nobody needs to prove to anybody what they're worthy of, just the person that they look at in the mirror. That's the only person you need to answer to. " --Picabo Street, former Olympic alpine skiing champion

  • "Part of being a champ is acting like a champ. You have to learn how to win and not run away when you lose." --Nancy Kerrigan, former Olympic ice skating champion

  • "There is no mat space for malcontents or dissenters." --Dan Gable, former Olympic wrestling champion

  • "You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them." --Michael Jordan, former Olympic basketball champion

  • "If you fail to prepare, you're prepared to fail." --Mark Spitz, former Olympic swimming champion

  • "When anyone tells me I can't do anything, I'm just not listening anymore." --Florence Griffith Joyner, Olympic track and field champion

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Photo Credit: AP Images