Inspiring quotes from Olympic athletes (that will SERIOUSLY motivate you)
It's fair to say Olympic athletes know a thing or two about success - and failure. Not to mention willpower, passion, confidence... you get the idea. So, whether you need motivation to hit the gym, smash a work deadline or just get you through the day - these kickass words from some of our favourite female Olympians may help.
Getty ImagesWilma Rudolph
What you need to know about her:
Wilma was an American track and field sprinter. She competed in two Olympic Games (1956 and 1960) and was considered the fastest woman in the world in the 1960s.
Olympic Medals
She won three gold medals in track and field, Rome 1960. One bronze medal, Melbourne 1956.
Inspiring Quote
"Believe me, the reward is not so great without the struggle."
Getty ImagesVenus Williams
What you need to know about her:
Venus is a former World No.1 singles tennis player. In 2002, she became the first black woman to ever have held the title. With seven grand slam singles, Venus is twelfth on the world's all-time list.
Olympic Medals
She has won three gold medals for Doubles at Sydney 2000, Belling 2008 and London 2012. As well as another gold medal for Singles in Sydney 2000.
Inspiring Quote
“You have to believe in yourself when no one else does — that makes you a winner right there.” (US tennis gold medalist)
Getty ImagesJessica Ennis-Hill CBE
What you need to know about her:
Jessica Ennis is a British track and field athlete and is the current Olympic and heptathlon champion.Olympic Medals
Jessica received her first Olympic medal at London 2012 where she won gold in Heptathlon.Inspiring Quote
"The only one who can tell you “you can’t win” is you and you don’t have to listen."
Getty ImagesJackie Joyner-Kersee
What you need to know about her:
Ranked as one of the all time greatest athletes for Heptathlon and women's long jump, Jackie Joyner-Kersee is a former American track and field star. She was also voted greatest athlete of all time by Sports Illustrated Magazine.Olympic Medals
Jackie has won three gold medals, one sliver and two bronze at four Olympic Games including Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996.
Inspiring Quote
“Age is no barrier. It’s a limitation you put on your mind”
Getty ImagesDana Vollmer
What you need to know about her:
Dana Vollmer is an American competitive swimmer and former world record holder.Olympic Medals
She won a gold medal for being apart of the winning 4x200m Free Relay team at the 2004 Athens Games. She won three gold medals at the London 2012 Games.
Inspiring Quote
“It’s what you do with the rough patches that will define the athlete that you’ll become.”
Getty ImagesClara Hughes
What you need to know about her:
Canadian cyclist and speed skater Clara Hughes is one of only five people in the world who have won medals in both the summer and winter Olympics. She was the first woman to win an Olympic medal in road cycling at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Olympic Medals
Hughes won two bronze medals for road cycling at summer Olympics in Atlanta. For speed skating in three separate winter Olympic games, she won one gold medal (2006), one silver (2008) and two bronze (2002 and 2010).
Inspiring Quote
“If you dream and you allow yourself to dream you can do anything.”
PA PhotosNicola Adams
What you need to know about her:
British boxer Nicola Adams is the first woman to win an Olympic title for boxing.The 33 year-old is openly bisexual and was also awarded with the title for most influential LGBT person in 2012 by The Independent.
Olympic Medals
She won a gold medal at the London 2012 Games.
Inspiring Quote
"The most important thing is to be honest about yourself. Secrets weigh heavy and it’s when you try to keep everything to yourself that it becomes a burden. You waste energy agonising when you could be living your life and realising your dreams.”
Getty ImagesGabrielle Douglas
What you need to know about her:
Gabrielle Douglas is an American artistic gymnast. She is the first ever African-American gymnast to become the all around champion in Olympic history - winning gold medals in both the gymnastic individuals and team competitions in the London 2012 Games.Olympic Medals
She won two gold medals in the London 2012 Olympics.
Inspiring Quote
“You just have to be yourself and go full with confidence and be courageous”
PA PhotosKirsty Coventry
What you need to know about her:
Kirsty Coventry is a Zimbabwean swimmer and former world record holder. She was named Zimbabwe's Sports Woman of the Year while she was still in high school in 2000 after becoming the first swimmer of her country to reach an Olympic semi-final at the Sydney Games.
Olympic Medals
At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Kirsty won a gold, a silver and a bronze medal. In the 2008 Beijing Games she won four medals, one gold and three silvers.
Inspiring Quote
“There are younger, stronger swimmers coming up and they are hungry. I cant influence what they do, I only know what I can do and I know how greedy I am to defend my title.”
PA PhotosRonda Rousey
What you need to know about her:
Mixed martial artist Ronda Rousey was the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in judo. At the age of 17, she became the youngest person to qualify for judo at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Olympic Medals
At the 2008 Beijing Games, Ronda won a bronze medal.
Inspiring Quote
“Fighting is not a man's thing, it is a human thing.”
PA PhotosMary Lou Retton
What you need to know about her:
Mary Lou Retton is a retired American gymnast. Her Olympic performance in the 1984 Los Angeles Games made her the most popular athlete in America.
Olympic Medals
She won a gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
Inspiring Quote
"A trophy carries dust. Memories last forever."
Getty ImagesShelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
What you need to know about her:
Jamaican track and field sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce made history when she became the first Caribbean woman to win the 100m race in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She kept her title as she won the same race in the London 2012 Games, making her the third woman to win two 100m events consecutively.
Olympic Medals
She won a gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Games, and another gold and two silvers at the London 2012 Olympics.
Inspiring Quote
“A person's view of you is not important. What is important is your view of yourself.”
Getty ImagesWhat you need to know about her:
Ohio-born 19-year-old, Simone Biles, is the hottest thing in gymanastics right now. She is a three-time world all-around champion, three-time world floor champion, two-time world balance beam champion, four-time United States national all-around champion. She was also a member of the gold medal-winning American teams at the 2014 and the 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships and we still haven't mentioned the Olympics yet...
Olympic Medals
She won her first gold medal of the Rio 2016 Games in the gymnastics team event and has now won her second in the hardest meet, the individual all round. We reckon she'll be taking home plenty more yet.
Inspiring Quote
"I'm not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps. I'm the first Simone Biles".
