Motivational quotes from sports people
Competitive sports are often the setting for incredible stories of perseverance, resilience and glory, as larger-than-life sporting personalities inspire us to push our limits and never give up on our dreams.
It’s little wonder, then, that the sporting world has given us some of the most inspiring motivational quotes of all time, straight from the horse’s mouth. What better way to seek out a second wind than by combing through top-tier quotes from athletes who have been there, done that, and earned their place in sporting history?
The quotes compiled in this list reflect the determination and indomitable mindset typically associated with the world’s most successful athletes.
- “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” – Vince Lombardi
Words to live by from the NFL’s most successful coach.
- “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” – Pelé
Football’s biggest superstar knew how much his fans looked up to him on and off the pitch, and his words of wisdom often reflect this responsibility.
- “It’s not the will to win that matters—everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.” – Paul “Bear” Bryant
Bear was speaking from experience here, as one of the greatest college football coaches of all time
- “Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.” – John Wooden
Nicknamed the “Wizard of Westwood”, Wooden broke more college basketball records than any coach before or since.
- “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky
Spoken by the leading goal scorer, assist producer and point scorer in NHL history…
- “Champions keep playing until they get it right.” – Billie Jean King
True to her word, King followed up her on-court success by becoming a trailblazer for female equality in tennis.
- “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” – Tim Notke
Kevin Durant said he repeatedly turned to this quote from high-school basketball coach Notke to achieve his goals – and now you can too!
- “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
Inspiring words from the first black player to be selected to the United States Davis Cup team.
- “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
The highs and lows of professional sports, summed up by arguably the greatest basketball player of all time.
- “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.” – Magic Johnson
This phrase has been attributed to American wordsmith Mark Twain, but it makes sense coming from the mighty Magic Johnson too.
- “Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I’m very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.” – Bill Shankly
Liverpool manager Shankly may have been joking when he spoke these timeless words, but no one can be 100% sure either way. Which is the whole point, really…
- “I’ve learned that something constructive comes from every defeat.” – Tom Landry
Not that Landry oversaw many defeats in his 29 triumphant seasons as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys…
- “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack in will.” – Vince Lombardi
A return to the list for American Football legend Lombardi
- “Excellence is not a singular act but a habit. You are what you do repeatedly.” – Shaquille O’Neal
In other words: Shaq may have been blessed with natural height and ability, but it was his commitment and discipline which made him one of the all-time NBA greats
- “It’s just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up.” – Muhammad Ali
And finally, a quote from the great boxer, wordsmith and activist Muhammad Ali to remind us that, underneath all the bluster and bravado, sporting greats are just regular folk like you and me…
