I believe that it is better to learn from the diverse people around us than to try in vain to emulate them, better to be a teacher than a role model. As strong as my legs are, it is my mind that has made me a champion.

How could you look more stupid than to be the guy accepting a bronze medal in gold shoes?

It is important that you strive for humility, but not humiliation, for a cool, level-headed confidence, not a stiff, delusional arrogance.

The only way to deal with loss - as a horribly unwelcome guest that you know will show up eventually. And so you deny it and reject it and ignore it and laugh in its face. You toss it out into the street and push it away and fight it off, and only it has landed square in your lap, only then do you deal with it.

A good traveller is one who knows how to travel with the mind.

Your problems pale in comparison with those of the millions of people in the world who do not have enough to eat.

One of the main techniques I used was focusing on the goal and visualising myself competing in the race before the race started.