How we cite our quotes: (Book)
Quote #4
Where he was, primarily, was flat broke again and more than a little discouraged. Not just about the perpetual problem of finding money but about the whole crew business. The year had taken an emotional toll on him. Demoted and promoted and demoted again, he'd started to think of himself as a kind of yo-yo in the hands of the coaches, or the Fates, he wasn't sure which – up one minute, down the next. The sense of purpose crew gave him brought with it the constant danger of failing and thereby losing the precious but fragile pride that his early successes had brought him. (The Boys in the Boat)
It's hard to find any athlete who's never experienced a moment of self-doubt. So it's no surprise that Joe Rantz suffered from what's known by doctors as discouragitis. (Just kidding. They must have a fancier name for it.) But the lure of gold and the spirit of competition continued to motivate him towards seeking out the elusive goal of Olympic greatness.
Quote #5
But for Owens, each step was a test, to see if his back could hold his weight. So stupid, he thought, so stupid. Five days earlier, five days before the biggest meet of the season, he had fallen down a flight of stairs while horsing around with his Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity brothers in Columbus. […] The day before, Owens had qualified for the final of the 100-yard sprint despite the searing pain in his back. Now all he wanted was a chance to compete in the final. If he couldn't withstand the pain, he wouldn't participate in the three other events he had entered: the 220-yard dash, the 220-yard low hurdles, and the broad jump. (Triumph)
Despite the fact that his coach and his teammates were trying to talk him out of competing, Owens just had to try. And we all know what happens next: he wins. He runs despite crippling pain, and ended up setting several records and earning himself quite the reputation.
Quote #6
But he never failed to impress me with his intelligence and his perseverance. Ryan was determined to go to school, and once he'd accomplished that, his goal was to live a normal life for as long as he could and take every opportunity to educate people about AIDS. I was amazed at how he handled himself, whether it was one-on-one or on national television. He was – and is – an inspiration. (Breaking the Surface)
Ryan is the kid who inspired Greg Louganis to get involved with AmFAR, the American Foundation for AIDS Research, which has done a lot of good over the years since he joined. And it's all because one kid wasn't going to let an AIDS diagnosis stop him from achieving his goals. Perseverance FTW.