97 Sports Quotes and Images to Motivate You

Sports quotes can motivate you to work hard and persevere. However, they are not only pertinent to athletes but also for people who wants to succeed. Sports are the epitome of devotion and lots of hard work. In order to reach the peak of your sport, you have to give it all.

Most people watch sports not only because of the excitement but also because of the drama that it brings. There’s nothing more exciting that watching your favorite team come back to win the championship. Sports are more about those marvelous moments wherein the players are able to overcome the odds due to their will and determination. These are surely the best moments that are worth remembering.

That is why, it’s not a surprise that these successful athletes have some motivational and inspiring things to say with regards to their hard work, persistence, supremacy and of course winning the game. As we look back on those emotional moments of sports history, memories of the most promising and courageous sportsmen began to flood the scene. Their ecstatic statements have captivated us, making us believe that impossible things can happen.

With this in mind, we’ve scoured 97 of the best sports quotes from legendary athletes. Whether you require a little push or just starting out, these inspiring quotes can surely kick your motivation into a higher level. So, get ready to be motivated to push your own limits and achieve your goals.

Motivational Sports Quotes with Images

1. “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” Arthur Ashe, American former tennis player

2. “Age is no barrier. It’s a limitation you put on your mind.” – Jackie Joyner-Kersee, American former track and field athlete

3. “Today, you have 100% of your life left.” – Tom Landry, American football coach

4. “Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game.” — Michael Jordan, American former basketball player

5. “In the sports arena I would say there is nothing like training and preparation. You have to train your mind as much as your body.” — Venus Williams, American former tennis player

6. “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, and others make it happen.” – Michael Jordan, American former basketball player

7. “Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up.” ― Dean Karnazes, American runner

8. “At one point in your life you either have the thing you want or the reasons why you don’t.” – Andy Roddick, American former tennis player

9. “So many people along the way, whatever it is you aspire to do, will tell you it can’t be done. But all it takes is imagination. You dream. You plan. You reach.” – Michael Phelps, American former competitive swimmer

10. A champion is someone who gets up when he can’t. Jack Dempsey

What sets champions apart from the other players is their integrity and determination to win.

11. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. Michael Jordan

This is one of the most popular sports quotes from Michael Jordan which proves that even the greatest can still fail.

12. A trophy carries dust. Memories last forever. Mary Lou Retton

The thrill of winning is the most memorable moment of the champions.

13. I never worry about the problem. I worry about the solution. Shaquille O’neal

This is the exact approach of champions. Rather than getting lost in the problem they look for answers.

14. To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift. Steve Prefontaine

Each person has his own ability. No matter if its big or small, you have to give it all.

15. Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. Arnold Schwarzenegger

You need to develop your strength through persistence and hard work so that you can enjoy the glory of winning.

16. Persistence can change failure into extraordinary achievement. Matt Biondi

Matt Biondi was an 11-time medalist in swimming.

17. If you are afraid of failure you don’t deserve to be successful! Charles Barkley

Even champions also have their own weaknesses. If you are afraid to fail then you can never succeed.

18. If you don’t have confidence, you’ll always find a way not to win. Carl Lewis

This is one of the greatest sports quotes from one of the greatest athletes in history. Lewis never compared his achievements with anyone, rather he focused on competing against himself.

19. Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. George Halas

If you are in the middle of a competition, you have to give it your best.

20. Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Michael Jordan

In every game, always expect the unexpected.

21. “In baseball and in business, there are three types of people. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and those who wonder what happened.” –Tommy Lasorda

In any sports, it’s always the winners who can make things happen.

22. There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do. Derek Jeter

Don’t stop training yourself so that you are always prepared.

23. A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be. Wayne Gretzky

Winners always look ahead.

24. If you aren’t going all the way, why go at all? Joe Namath

Make sure that you are doing it right.

25. Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don’t win once in a while…

Having a mentality that you are set out to win can let you win in every competition.

26. It’s not the will to win that matters — everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters. Paul Bryant

27. Success is where preparation and opportunity meet. Bobby Unser

You can only enjoy the glory of winning if you are well prepared.

28. If you have everything under control, you’re not moving fast enough. Mario Andretti

Playing it safe may not always be beneficial.

29. Today, you have 100% of your life left.

If you don’t win today, there’s always hope for tomorrow and the day after that. Just because you did not win today, doesn’t mean that you’ll never will.

30. There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do. Derek Jeter

Winning is not all about talent. Working hard can take you to places that talent can’t.

31. You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them. Michael Jordan

You need to have a clear vision of your goals.

32. Never say never because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion. Michael Jordan

Whenever you have mental blocks, it can create fears and doubts in reaching your goals. However, it is just your mind playing tricks on you.

33. A champion is simply someone who did not give up when he wanted to. Tom Landry

Some people never accomplished their dreams because they simply give up.

34. Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is. Vince Lombardi

If you want to win then you need to go much further. The most important aspect in achieving success is the desire to succeed.

35. Somewhere behind the athlete you’ve become and the hours of practice and the coaches who have pushed you…

Nurture your passion.

36. The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning. Pele

Enjoy your achievements.

37. Age is no barrier. It’s a limitation you put on your mind. Jackie Joyner-Kersee

No one is never too old to start accomplishing their dreams.

38. It’s not easy to part with the trophies. However, I do need to have some long-term financial security for those close to me. Björn Rune Borg

Björn Rune Borg was the world’s No. 1 tennis player during his time. He is considered as one of the greatest tennis players in history.

39. The more successful you are, the more people will want out of you. Pete Sampras

Petros “Pete” Sampras was a former world No. 1 tennis player who has won a total of 14 grand slams.

40. It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up. Babe Ruth

In every game, Babe Ruth always prevailed in strikeouts and home runs. It’s because he never gave up.

41. Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face. Mike Tyson

If you have perseverance and endurance then you can get anything you want.

42. If you don’t practice you don’t deserve to win. Andre Agassi

Andre Kirk Agassi was a former World No. 1 tennis player who became prevalent during the early 1990s up to the mid-2000s.

43. Remember this. Hold on to this. This is the only perfection there is, the perfection of helping others. Andre Agassi

Never forget to give back.

44. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. Kevin Durant

It is a fact the there are numerous people in this world who are talented. However, talent is not enough. What separates the good from the great is work ethic and dedication.

45. You can’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get. Michael Phelps

Anything can be possible as long as you work hard.

46. It is not the size of a man but the size of his heart that matters. Evander Holyfield

Evander Holyfield was one of the greatest heavyweight fighters who has beaten just about anyone. He always worked hard in every fight and now he retired without any regrets.

47. I’ve learned that something constructive comes from every defeat. Tom Landry

There is always a lesson learned each time you fail. If you are afraid that you might not win then you will never be.

48. You’re never a loser until you quit trying. Mike Ditka

Champions work. That is why they are champions. If you stop working then you will a loser.

49. Nobody beat Vitas Gerulaitis 17 times in a row.

This is one of the funniest sports quotes that is used by tennis players every time they finish a long-standing streak against their competitor.

50. He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life. Muhammad Ali

Aside from talent and hard work, you also need to take risks in order to become a champion.

51. It ain’t over ’til it’s over. Yogi Berra

This is one of the most inspiring sports quotes of all time. When asked about their chances of winning, Yogi simply used this response.

52. It is more difficult to stay on top than to get there. Mia Hamm

Staying on top means pushing yourself much harder.

53. Winners never quit and quitters never win. Vince Lombardi

If you want to become a winner then you should never quit. In fact, the only way that you can win is to make your opponent quit.

54. What makes something special is not just what you have to gain, but what you feel there is to lose. Andre Agassi

When you are consistently on top then every game matters because you have everything to lose.

55. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Wayne Gretzky

This is one of the most motivational sports quotes from the most excellent hockey player. It tells us to take risks or else you can never make it.

56. Set your goals high, and don’t stop till you get there. Bo Jackson

Never settle for anything less.

Sports quotes to give you motivation

57. “The hardest skill to acquire in this sport is the one where you compete all out, give it all you have, and you are still getting beat no matter what you do. When you have the killer instinct to fight through that, it is very special.” – Eddie Reese

58. “Some people say I have attitude – maybe I do…but I think you have to. You have to believe in yourself when no one else does – that makes you a winner right there. ” – Venus Williams

59. “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

60. “Do you know what my favorite part of the game is? The opportunity to play.”― Mike Singletary

61. “The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man’s determination.” – Tommy Lasorda

62. “The principle is competing against yourself. It’s about self-improvement, about being better than you were the day before.” – Steve Young

63. “Just be patient. Let the game come to you. Don’t rush. Be quick, but don’t hurry.” – Earl Monroe

64. “There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.” – Derek Jeter

65. “An athlete cannot run with money in his pockets. He must run with hope in his heart and dreams in his head.”– Emil Zatopek

Sports quotes to help you develop a winning mindset

66. “Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.” – John Wooden

 67. “You can’t win unless you learn how to lose.” – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

68. “Victory is fleeting. Losing is forever.” — Billie Jean King

69. “Some may have more talent than you, but there is no excuse for anyone working harder than you do.” – John Tavares

Sports quotes about confidence and keep going

70. “Most talented players don’t always succeed. Some don’t even make the team. It’s more what’s inside.”– Brett Favre

71. “You can motivate by fear, and you can motivate by reward. But both those methods are only temporary. The only lasting thing is self-motivation.”– Homer Rice

72. “My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging.” – Hank Aaron

73. “To uncover your true potential you must first find your own limits and then you have to have the courage to blow past them.”– Picabo Street

74. “If you can believe it, the mind can achieve it.”– Ronnie Lott

75. “If you don’t have confidence, you’ll always find a way not to win.”– Carl Lewis

76. “Without self-discipline, success is impossible, period.”– Lou Holtz

77. “Just keep going. Everybody gets better if they keep at it.”– Ted Williams

78. “The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital.”– Joe Paterno

79. “The most rewarding things you do in life are often the ones that look like they cannot be done.” – Arnold Palmer

Sports quotes that will make you think differently

80. “You are the handicap you must face. You are the one who must choose your place.” – James Lane Allen

81. “Everybody’s got plans… until they get hit.” – Mike Tyson

82. “I’ve always made a total effort, even when the odds seemed entirely against me. I never quit trying; I never felt that I didn’t have a chance to win.” – Arnold Palmer

83. “Pressure is a word that is misused in our vocabulary. When you start thinking of pressure, it’s because you’ve started to think of failure.” – Tommy Lasorda

Sports quotes that will motivate you

84. “The best motivation always comes from within.” – Michael Johnson

85. “Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward.” – Vernon La

86. “Make sure your worst enemy doesn’t live between your own two ears.” — Laird Hamilton

87. “Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they’ve got a second.” — William James

88. “Continuous effort — not strength or intelligence — is the key to unlocking our potential.” — Liane Cardes

89. “Never give up, never give in, and when the upper hand is ours, may we have the ability to handle the win with the dignity that we absorbed the loss.” — Doug Williams

90. “One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team.” – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Motivational Sports Quotes To Boost A Positive Mindset

 91. “My thoughts before a big race are usually pretty simple. I tell myself: Get out of the blocks, run your race, stay relaxed. If you run your race, you’ll win… channel your energy. Focus.” — Carl Lewis

92. “I don’t count my situps. I only start counting once it starts hurting.” — Muhammad Ali

93. “I always felt that my greatest asset was not my physical ability, it was my mental ability.” – Bruce Jenner

94. “The only way to prove that you’re a good sport is to lose.” – Ernie Banks

95. “The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.” Kobe Bryant, American Basketball Player

96. “I am facing a challenge, I am not facing defeat. Remember this.” – Nikki Rowe

97. “If you want to be the best, you have to do the things that other people aren’t willing to do.” — Michael Phelps

Final thoughts on Sports Quotes

Studies have shown that participating in sports have benefits for mental and physical health. If you still need a little extra push to get moving, be sure to check out the other motivational quotes for when you want to workout, to go to the gym or just simply to get into fitness.

What is it about sports that a lot of athletes are very much interested in showing their abilities. Is it about the competition, the elegance, the history or simply their devoted athleticism? In the book, “Homo Ludens”, Johan Huizinga contends that human beings are absolutely unique not because we can think but because we are able to play. For him, play is not just kids putting up some blocks together. He depicts play as something truly essential. Every kind of sports has its own rules. If the players are able to accept them then the magic will emanate. However, if the referee does not function well and the rules are violated then everything will fall apart. Without the rules, your game will be meaningless.

The sports world is much the same as the business world. It deals with training, competition, dedication and of course winners and losers. Simply put, aspiring sportsmen can obtain motivation from successful businessmen. Conversely, business leaders can acquire inspiration from the most prevalent athletes.

These inspiring sports quotes are not only applicable in sports. In fact, it can also be applicable in almost any situation in life.

We hope that you have found inspiration in these quotes and encourage you to share your favorite with us in the comments below and on social media with your friends.

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