To chase an athlete that really doesn't want to speak with you and when you finally get him, gives you three words and you have to write a story based on three words of information he gave you, that's pretty tough. Junior Seau
To have any doubt in your body is the biggest weakness an athlete can have. There are times when I physically can't get myself to go for a skill because I'm thinking, 'My knee hurts really bad.' Shawn Johnson
Unlike the traditional athlete, I've got to do more than just engage in my sport to put food on the table. When I'm done running, it's straight to the office. Dean Karnazes
When first starting to work with someone you try to get them in the same mindset that you were in when you were successful, and I realized the best thing you can ever do is realize that they are not you. They have a different persona and mindset, and you have to figure out what works best within your communication with that athlete. Dan OBrien
When I found Jesus Christ, I learned to be a better athlete. I didn't have to go out there and knock them out in the first round. I've learned to be patient, skillful in the ring. At the same time, I wanted to prove to other boxers that you can take off this killer instinct stuff, you can be a great athlete, a great boxer, and love your brother.George Foreman
When I was playing I never wished I was doing anything else. I think being a professional athlete is the finest thing a man can do. Bob Gibson
When I was younger, I used to wrestle, and I feel that it contributed to my athletic ability because as a wrestler you have to be an all-encompassed athlete. You need stamina, strength, endurance and mental capacity. You also have to learn how to adapt in any situation. Dhani Jones
When I'm in the gym, I'm in the gym, and that is my focus. But when I'm not in the gym, I'm enjoying being a mom and taking care of those responsibilities .. They really do provide me with the balance that I need to be a more complete athlete. Melanie Roach
When you are an athlete, it's difficult to take time off and say you want to come back without everyone judging you and attacking you. Johnny Weir
When you reach that elite level, 90 percent is mental and 10 percent is physical. You are competing against yourself. Not against the other athlete. Dick Fosbury
When you speak of role models, when we talk to our kids, everybody is a role model, everyone, just as you look at a Michael Jordan to be the terrific athlete he is. Walter Payton
When you're a 20-something-year-old athlete and you're getting a six-figure check every week, you're not thinking about next week. You're not thinking, 'I'm going to be broke,' or 'I'm going to need another job.' But I'll tell you, there are a lot of broke athletes out there - I know plenty - and I didn't want to end up as one. Michael Strahan
When you're an athlete and you play every day and are conditioning yourself every year, the aging is gradual. Cal Ripken Jr
You can't control what the other athlete is going to do; you can't control anything except for your competition and how you execute the race or how you execute the task. Michael Johnson
You know raising a family in the lifestyle of a professional athlete can be very difficult. Robin Yount
You look at a Pete Rose to be the terrific athlete he is and then he falls on hard times, but when he played the game, I got something from the way he played the game because he hustled every play, and just because he had one mistake in his life, am I supposed to throw back everything that I gained from him? Walter Payton
You need to become more than one type of athlete. You have to be a sprinter, a weight man and a distance guy all in one. Dan OBrien
You see a hockey player, you'd never know he's a professional athlete. But you put the skates on him, and he becomes a beast. Junior Seau
You're a person a lot longer before and after you're a professional athlete. People always say to me, 'Your image is this, your image is that.' Your image isn't your character. Character is what you are as a person. That's what I worry about. Derek Jeter