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.
Interpretation
The quote expresses pride in one's competitive era and the true passion for sport beyond personal gain.
Daley Thompson reflects on his athletic career, emphasizing that he values the time he competed for its spirit and the honor of representing his country. He conveys a sense of nostalgia and pride for the dedication shown by himself and his contemporaries, suggesting that their motivation stemmed from a passion for achievement rather than commercial success.
In practice
During a speech at a sports awards ceremony to inspire young athletes.
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.
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.
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.
It occurs to me that, after the huge output of writing I've produced over the years, there is a close link between my twin careers as investment executive and financial writer: The power of the word and the power of the book have played a major role in turning my vision... into reality.
If you want to achieve your highest aspirations and overcome your greatest challenges, identify and apply the principle or natural law that governs the results you seek. How we apply a principle will vary greatly and will be determined by our unique strengths, talents, and creativity, but, ultimately, success in any endeavor is always derived from acting in harmony with the principles to which the success is tied.
How did I escape? With difficulty. How did I plan this moment? With pleasure!
Achievement does not require extraordinary ability. Achievement comes from ordinary abilities applied with extraordinary persistence.
Every dream I've ever had in life has come true ten times over.
Over time, I learned that how a quarterback moves the chains and leads his team to touchdowns is about as important as whether he actually does it or not.
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