ByQuotes

Jackie Joyner-Kersee Quotes

Powerful Jackie Joyner-Kersee for Daily Growth

Winning is great, but being able to finish my last Olympic Games on American soil was very important. Even though I was injured, I didn't let my psyche get the best of me and cause me to doubt myself, so I was willing to pull every muscle in my body in '96 in order to get the job done and I came away with the bronze medal.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Away, Very, Olympic, Psyche

My denial and irresponsible attitude about asthma put me at great risk and caused me so much needless suffering. My hope is that the kids I talk to learn to open up about their asthma, become educated about their condition, and seek help.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Suffering, Denial, About, Irresponsible

The London games mark the 24th anniversary of my winning two golds and setting the world record in the heptathlon. Someone is going to want it; records are made to be broken - it's only a matter of time. I hope mine will outlive me.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

London, Matter, Records, World Record

There are a lot of other people that really play a significant role in helping you become an Olympian.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Play, Other, Lot, Olympian

When I was in elementary school, we weren't allowed to do sports other than cheerleading. By junior high, they let us play, but we had to come back after 6:30 p.m. to practice because there was only one gymnasium and the boys used it first.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Practice, Play, Other, Junior

I don't think there is a perfect athlete. But if I had to come close to picking someone who demonstrates all the traits that I feel an athlete should have, I would say the perfect athlete would be Tiger Woods. He has the ability, he's humble and he's very good at what he does.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Humble, Very, Traits, None

We live in a world where sports have the potential to bridge the gap between racism, sexism and discrimination. The 2012 Olympic Games was a great start but hopefully what these games taught us is that if women are given an opportunity on an equal playing field the possibilities for women are endless.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Possibilities, Olympic, Women Are

Competing in both track and field and basketball for the Bruins I have a lot of great memories to choose from. But my all-time favorite moment in collegiate sports has to be in 1982 when we won UCLA's first NCAA title in track.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Moment, Choose, Title, All-Time

I would like 'I Dream of Genie' powers.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Dream, Like, Would, Genie

Quality training is what I do now; before it was a combination of both quality and quantity. Now I'm not trying to be a world-class athlete, I don't need to train at that level. It's about being fit, fit for life.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Quantity, World-Class, Train

There are many women who came before me who didn't really have the same opportunities that I have had. That's why I always wanted to be a great ambassador - not only today's generation - but for the women who really didn't have a voice, but who paved the way for me.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Voice, Why, Before, Paved

Even though I'm not a competitive athlete, I have to still maintain things and try to keep myself fit because I am at that age where I need to make sure to get those regular checkups and make sure everything is in tact.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Fitness, Maintain, Fit, Tact

Ask any athlete: We all hurt at times. I'm asking my body to go through seven different tasks. To ask it not to ache would be too much.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Athlete, Asking, Through, Tasks

It's important to me to try and expose young people to the things they believe are off-limits to them. I tell them, 'There are no walls, only the ones we put up.' My advice to young people looking at my life is not to follow my footprint but to go out there and make their own.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

My Life, Advice, Young, Footprint

I do not take steroids. I never have. It's sad to me that people want to point fingers. I don't do that. That's not me. I wouldn't feel like a human being.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Want, Human Being, Like, Steroids

I'm more of a hands-on person. I like working with young people from the standpoint of providing support for the grassroots programs. State, national and Olympic champions begin at a grassroots level.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Like, Providing, Olympic, Standpoint

I was diagnosed with asthma when I was 18 during my freshman year at UCLA. I refused to accept it - and I hid it from my coaches and teammates. But ignoring my problem didn't make it go away.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Away, Hid, Refused, Diagnosed

It wasn't until I was 14 and watched the 1976 Olympic games on television that I really started to dream about the big time. I remember seeing Evelyn Ashford in the 100 meters, and she was going to UCLA.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Big, I Remember, Olympic, UCLA

Some people are embarrassed to say they came from East St. Louis, Ill., but now more people want to claim it. I grew up in a community center and I knew what it gave me. I always knew I wanted to give back and help people because people helped me.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Back, Some, Embarrassed, Louis

Your environment doesn't define you. I don't have a lot of money, but I can help train people and I can talk to people. We can all be mentors to the next generation.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Generation, Next, Your, Train

I'm a realist and I always have been. Quality training is what I do now; before it was a combination of both quality and quantity. Now I'm not trying to be a world-class athlete, I don't need to train at that level. It's about being fit, fit for life.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Quantity, Always, Been, Train

People assume that because I'm a great athlete, I can dance. But no. My rhythm is off a little bit.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Athlete, Rhythm, Little Bit, Assume

When I started competing, you had to have your coach there. Now you can be coached from a home office via Skype or video. That's not the same as having them on the field with you.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Competing, Coached, Having, Skype

The 2012 London Olympic Games fostered a generation of hope. I witnessed women participating for the very first time, representing every nation.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Generation, Very, Witnessed, Olympic Games

Even at 10 or 12, I was a hot, fast little cheerleader.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Hot, Fast, Even, Cheerleader

The person who talks a lot or talks over people misses out because they weren't listening.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Listening, Over, Lot, Misses

I learned to listen and listen very well. It helped me athletically and in the classroom as well. The person who talks a lot or talks over people misses out because they weren't listening.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Listening, Over, Very, Misses

Once I leave this earth, I know I've done something that will continue to help others.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Will, Done, Something, Help Others

My passion for giving is no different than yours. I give because it's in my heart to give. I give because I was taught to give at a very early age. This is how I developed my passion for giving.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Give, Very, Very Early Age, Yours

People assuming that because I'm a great athlete, I can dance. But no. My rhythm is off a little bit.

- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Athlete, Rhythm, Little Bit, Assuming

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.