In sport, if you want to be the best you have to compete against the best - I would much rather have come tenth and be judged against everyone than come first and be judged against just a few.
Interpretation
True success comes from challenging oneself against the highest standards.
This quote emphasizes the importance of competition and striving for excellence. Daley Thompson expresses the idea that achieving a high rank is more meaningful when it comes from facing tough opponents rather than winning easily against lesser competition. It highlights the value of pushing oneself to grow and improve by engaging in challenging situations.
In practice
Motivational speech to athletes at a sports event.
I was in the doldrums for a while after my athletics career ended in 1992. I spent six to eight hours a day training, for 18 years, and it took a long time to get over the regret that I wasn't competing in major championships any more. All I ever wanted to be was the best. But I find new projects and I keep things in perspective.
I did not want to be the best black man of the year; I wanted to be the best man of the year.
Being a decathlete is like having ten girlfriends. You have to love them all, and you can't afford losing one.
I wouldn't swap the era I competed in for anything, not a day of it. I started out as an amateur, and people like myself, Seb Coe, Steve Ovett, Steve Cram, Tessa Sanderson and the rest did it for the glory of winning medals for our country.
One of the major keys to success is to keep moving forward on the journey, making the best of the detours and interruptions, turning adversity into advantage.
Profitability comes from loyalty, productivity, and having a character base from which to work.
I know I didn't deserve this, but God has given me this baseball ability. So I've got to do whatever I can to honor him.
Like I've said many times before, I'm always more likely to remember goals for their importance rather than if they're beautiful or not. Goals scored in finals, for example.
A star can win any game; a team can win every game.
When you like something and you're pretty good at it and you can make a living doing it, you don't ask why. You just count your blessings and go with it.
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