“When it was [Larry] Bird's turn [to sign souvenir Team USA basketballs], he said to [Brian] McIntyre ' What's the quickest it's taken anyone to do this?' McIntyre said between fifteen and twenty minutes. Bird said, 'Time me,' finished in about six minutes, tossed the pen to McIntyre and said, 'Won another one, didn't I?”
Source: Dream Team: How Michael, Magic, Larry, Charles, and the Greatest Team of All Time Conquered the World and Changed the Game of Basketball Forever
“I told Coach, ‘You know, I realize we’ve been working hard for this, but the medal almost doesn’t matter anymore because I feel like you all have elevated me in such a way that I never could have duplicated that.’ The reinforcement of the journey is so valuable, not just the prize or medal hanging around your neck. And we had such a special time pursuing that together.
-- Denna Kastor, 2004 Olympic bronze medalist in the marathon”
Source: Chasing Excellence: The Remarkable Life and Inspiring Vigilosophy of Coach Joe I. Vigil
“Olympics (noun): A Corporate Jamboree revolving around sport. Gold medals are awarded for excellence in product placement, brand positioning, advertising, consumerism, propaganda, brainwashing, mind control, conditioning, and the creation of a false consciousness.”
Source: The Rigged Race of Life
“In a study that examined clothing and athletic performance, researchers found that athletes who wore red clothing in the 2004 Olympic Games won more events than those athletes who wore blue.”
Source: The Power of Tattoos: Twelve Hidden Energy Secrets of Body Art Every Tattoo Enthusiast Should Know
“Mihai loomed over me. 'Your choice,' he said encouragingly. 'Do you want to make it because you could have done a little bit more? You can suffer now and be a champion for the rest of your life. Or you can rest and risk a different outcome. Keep pushing, Aly....”
Source: Fierce: How Competing for Myself Changed Everything
“I think we all realized that making the Olympic team could be harder than winning team gold at the Games itself.”
Source: Fierce: How Competing for Myself Changed Everything
“I stood up, leaving a pool of sweat on the mat below. I saw the outline of my body imprinted in sweat on the chalky blue mat. A sweat angel. How gross, I thought. 'Look, Mihai,' I said, pointing at it. 'That's the sign of a hard worker right there.”
Source: Fierce: How Competing for Myself Changed Everything
“The new Chinese curriculum-they're practicing nodding heads for the brain olympics.”
“I was fortunate to be a teenager in the nineteen eighties. Back then we had romance, even if it was only in our minds and not real. We had Hollywood, the Oscars, real movie stars, famous authors, and the Olympics. Now, of course, we know that was all just a façade.”
“Even back about ten years ago, when she'd been making more of an effort to socialize, Nate hadn't made many appearances--and when he had shown up, he’d always stood back from everyone like he was a judge at the asshole Olympics and it was hard for him to decide who was taking home the gold.”
Source: The Beloved