Carl Lewis Quotes

Amateurism is the strongest form of discrimination in sports. Because it discriminates against the underprivileged, it discriminates against the poor. If we want sports to go back to the wealthy, let's make it amateur again.

I know there are a lot of people out there who have the best intentions but not the voice, so it's about people like me to give them a voice and hear their ideas.

I found the emotion that as an athlete you block out, and it really helped me to understand myself as a person. I'm a really emotional person and it helped make me a better person.

I work with the Carl Lewis Foundation focusing on youth from high school down.

I'm a fast learner. I may not run as fast as I used to, but I think I still learn as fast.

'm so fortunate to have done what I love to do for so long, but the day I retired was one of the best days of my life. Not because I was happy to get away from the sport, but because it was clear in my mind that I had done all I possibly could, and that it was time to go.

An athlete and actor are really two different temperaments, night and day. As an athlete you really keep things out and as an actor you really bring things in.

I always wanted to be wealthy. I did.

The people are fed up with their elected officials playing the blame game and treating their political counterparts as enemies.

I don't feel I'm qualified to be a coach outside the high school level. I think I would need to do more education to really be a good coach.

I want to be remembered as a person who felt there was no limitation to what the human body and mind can do and be the inspiration to lead people to do things they never hoped to do.

I've found that a person does not need protein from meat to be a successful athlete. In fact, my best year of track competition was the first year I ate a vegan diet.

I don't intend to stay around any longer than I feel I can be No. 1.

The trials on the road to world harmony are no greater than the courage of those who accept the challenge.

I tell you, it was kind of two-fold. I fortunately had a lot of support. My coach was amazing - he told me to focus on being prepared and that is what I did. Every athlete is nervous - any athlete who tells you they're not nervous isn't telling you the truth. I was as prepared as I could be.

The best kids are going to become the best. But the best thing about it is that you're going to learn lessons in playing those sports about winning and losing and teamwork and teammates and arguments and everything else that are going to affect you positively for the rest of your life.

Track and field is the best way to reach out for kids. It doesn't matter how fast you are. You always want to beat someone.

I've always known that sporting people frequently suffer from joint problems because of the repeated strain they put on their bodies to get to the top. But somehow I never thought it would happen to me.

Join me in the final race to smash poverty and achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals

I'm very serious about becoming a dramatic actor. I don't want to play cameo parts walking on as Carl Lewis the athlete. I want to go on stage or screen and be taken seriously.

Any press is good press. So keep on ragging me.

At the end of the day, if you're a professional athlete in track and field you are the CEO of your company.

I enjoy my life, I love track, I'm set for life financially.

If you don't have confidence, you'll always find a way not to win.

Scientists have proven that it's impossible to long-jump 30 feet, but I don't listen to that kind of talk. Thoughts like that have a way of sinking into your feet.

Some Americans just shouldnt leave the country.

Every New Year's Eve, I have a pact to do something I never thought I'd do. So I created this list. You have to free your mind to do things you wouldn't think of doing. Don't ever say no.

I'm not running for state Senate because I wanted to become a politician. I'm running because I wanted to serve.

You can't live your life through your children.

My life isn't interesting! It's my mom. You need to write her life and put me in it. I'm a cameo in her life.

I'm a businessman and actor and I still make appearances.

It's all about the journey, not the outcome.

I'm not Carl Lewis the athlete any more. I'm growing into a new person with new interests and new goals.

When I decided to go for four gold medals I planned it out over a few years. It was in four different events and there was a lot to it.

I always separated sports and my personal life.

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.

I have no intention of lingering through a season, just to have a chance to be an alternate on a relay. I don't want that.

You're not going to get a chance to vote for me on the ballot, but you can actually vote for what I believe in.

Our message of the day is service does not need a title.

I never competed against athletes. I competed against perfection.

When I run - you can see my record - I run to win.

My best year of track competition was the first year I ate a vegan diet.

People have a moral standard about what they will do and will not do. At the end of the day someone who cheats has a lower moral standard than someone who does not. And they will cheat in other areas of life as well.

I want to be a millionaire, and I don't ever want a real job.

We cannot rest until we make sure that our families can afford to live and raise their kids here, that our seniors can remain in their homes and afford their health and pharmaceutical costs.

After I left the podium in Atlanta, I felt so fulfilled in my career that I lost my desire to compete at that level again.

I like the pressure of having to perform so people will come to me.

There is no correlation between a childhood success and a professional athlete.