Top 10 Most Iconic Quotes by Athletes

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most inspirational and downright unforgettable quotes delivered to us by sporting superstars.

#10: “If You Can’t Outplay Them, Outwork Them”

Ben Hogan

He was a pioneer in the sport of golf, revered for his contributions to swing mechanics. He also happens to be one of the most decorated people to ever play the game. This quote doesn’t just relate to preparation, but also to the merits of good old-fashioned hard-nosed hustle on gameday. Sometimes it’s not the most technical athlete who wins. It can often be the one who can stand up to the pressure, the player who can swim in the deepest waters. Hogan was a masterful technician at his core, but you don’t win nine majors without having a bulletproof mindset.

#9: “I Really Think a Champion Is Defined Not by Their Wins but by How They Can Recover When They Fall”

Serena Williams

The legendary tennis icon gave us a quote that is as relevant to business, art, and relationships as it is to any sport. Serena Williams competed from the late 90s right up to 2022, but in the middle period, she lost a step due to injuries and a natural decline in form. However, like any true champion, she would not quit on herself. In 2012, after hitting her stride again, she had a renaissance that saw her carve out yet another chapter of Hall of Fame-worthy success. Dealing with failure is an unavoidable part of sports and life.

#8: “A Champion Is Someone Who Gets up When They Can’t”

Jack Dempsey

He fought in a very different time for the sport of boxing, when even the greatest fighters didn’t have the types of comforts they do these days. Competing in the early 20th century was a tough road. The fact that Dempsey’s only knockout loss came in a fight that some historians have called a fix, tells you everything you need to know. If anyone has the right to utter a quote like this, it’s Jack Dempsey. With the exception of Gene Tunney, Dempsey beat every other fighter who held a win over him, proving his ability to pick himself up when things weren’t going his way.

#7: “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

A lot of athletes can lose touch with their love of the game as they climb the ladder. As pressure intensifies, sometimes the simple pleasures of the sport become distant. U.S. soccer legend Mia Hamm sums up the most important thing about a career in sport pretty succinctly with this quote. Because at the end of the day, the reason most athletes get into their chosen sport is due to that initial love. That’s the fuel that drives them. It’s an important message that is as true in this field as it is in any other profession.

#6: “The Battles That Count Aren’t the Ones for Gold Medals. The Struggles Within Yourself — the Invisible, Inevitable Battles Inside All of Us — That’s Where It’s At”

Jesse Owens

He was one of the most important athletes of the twentieth century – best known for his four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Aside from just being a ridiculously talented athlete, he also dealt a huge blow to Adolf Hitler’s Aryan superiority propaganda machine. Owens had a truly remarkable level of mental toughness and his ability across several sports showcased that the only limitations are the ones imposed on ourselves. He sums this idea up with a natural flair – making it clear that the real battle is the one that happens inside your own mind.

#5: “I Hated Every Minute of Training, but I Said, ‘Don’t Quit. Suffer Now and Live the Rest of Your Life as a Champion’”

Muhammad Ali

He told us all exactly how great he was from the second they put a mic in front of him. By the time the dust had settled, he had proven it beyond any doubt. While we all remember his wins over George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Sonny Liston, and others, the real fight came during those long, hard sessions in the gym. A champion like Ali couldn’t afford to take it easy on himself behind closed doors. As he so eloquently put it, all those gruelling sessions ensured that he could live for the rest of his days as a legend. The word “discipline” only scratches the surface when describing his dedication!

#4: “It’s Not Whether You Get Knocked Down, It’s Whether You Get Up”

Vince Lombardi

Obstacles are a natural part of life, and no one gets to breeze through without encountering a few hurdles. Vince Lombardi crossed paths with all manner of athletes during his days as a player and then, in particular, as a coach. Assessing someone’s mental toughness was part of Lombardi’s day-to-day job … and where he truly earned his stripes was in his ability to instill a positive attitude in his players. Losing is inevitable, but sometimes even the most determined and driven athletes need to learn how to deal with defeat. In fact, it’s something that many successful people excel at, because there’s nothing worse than a promising trajectory being thrown off-course by a minor hiccup.

#3: “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

People tend to gloss over the failures when they speak about G.O.A.T. candidates in sports. Michael Jordan may have won six NBA championships in his career, but he also made his fair share of mistakes. The perfect performance doesn’t exist – not really. MJ understands that his failures made him the player he eventually became, and that if you’re aiming to be flawless, you’re going to fall short. It’s a powerful message, especially for those who consider Jordan to be an almost god-like figure within the sport of basketball.

“It Is Not the Size of a Man but the Size of His Heart That Matters,” Evander Holyfield

The Former World Champion on the Importance of an Indomitable Spirit

“The Only Way to Prove That You’re a Good Sport Is to Lose,” Ernie Banks

This Baseball Player Explained the Importance of Humility in a Nutshell

“People Throw Stones at You and You Convert Them Into Milestones,” Sachin Tendulkar

The God of Cricket Summed Up A Positive Mindset Better Than Anyone

“You Win a Few, You Lose a Few. Some Get Rained Out. But You Got to Dress for All of Them,” Satchel Paige

He Outlines the Importance of Showing Up in Spite of It All

“Champions Keep Playing Until They Get It Right,” Billie Jean King

The All-Time Tennis Great Had a Simple Assessment of What It Takes to Be the Best

#1: “You Miss 100% of the Shots You Don’t Take”

Wayne Gretzky

Is there a more poignant line in all of sports than this absolute bullseye from the great Wayne Gretzky? This is a quote that is not only relevant to the world of sports but to life in general. Gretzky surely knows a thing or two about doubt and how to overcome it and in this one line, he sums up how success is utterly impossible without taking that first step. Athletes who have achieved what he has possess a level of mental strength that goes far beyond the average person. We’re certain that Gretzky has inspired more than a few people to pursue their own dreams on the strength of his one quote alone.

What’s your favorite quote of all time? Let us know in the comments below!