--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's what defines the best athletes…" description: "\"That's what defines the best athletes: being capable of showing up year after year at the highest level.\" — Ada Hegerberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd3/ada-hegerberg-13217_athletes_that-s-what-defines-the-best-athletes-be_3168765.jpg" --- # That's what defines the best athletes: being capable of… ![“That's what defines the best athletes: being capable of showing up year after year at the highest level.” quote by Ada Hegerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd3/ada-hegerberg-13217_athletes_that-s-what-defines-the-best-athletes-be_3168765.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd3/ada-hegerberg-13217_athletes_that-s-what-defines-the-best-athletes-be_3168765.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd3/ada-hegerberg-13217_athletes_that-s-what-defines-the-best-athletes-be_3168765.jpg) > “That's what defines the best athletes: being capable of showing up year after year at the highest level.” [Ada Hegerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-hegerberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Consistent high‑level performance defines top athletes, emphasizing reliability and longevity. **In simple terms:** Great athletes show up year after year. Key Takeaway Prioritize consistency. Themes sports excellence discipline Mood focused inspirational Type sports motivational When to use this quote - season planning - training cycles - career longevity Key Concepts performance longevity mental toughness Questions to Reflect On - How do you sustain motivation over years? - What habits ensure yearly high performance? A Different Perspective Consistency may not guarantee peak moments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athletes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletes/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [Single defines you at your best because thats when you see who really wants you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lmc/single-defines-you-at-your-best-because-thats-when-you-see-who-really/) Lmc > [The NFL is the best athletes in the world with the best work ethic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-nassib/the-nfl-is-the-best-athletes-in-the-world-with-the-best-work-ethic/) [Carl Nassib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-nassib/) > ['Suena' is what the essence of the Olympics are about. There are the best athletes in the world up on one stage. The love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jencarlos-canela/suena-is-what-the-essence-of-the-olympics-are-about-there-are-the/) [Jencarlos Canela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jencarlos-canela/) > [To achieve in sports you first have to have a dream, and then you must act on that dream. The best athletes are those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-holum/to-achieve-in-sports-you-first-have-to-have-a-dream-and-then-you-must/) Dianne Holum > [Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler and I used to argue for hours about who the best athletes are. I thought football players were better overall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-moon/charles-barkley-clyde-drexler-and-i-used-to-argue-for-hours-about-who/) [Warren Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-moon/) > [Just being with some of the best athletes in the world is a marvelous experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/just-being-with-some-of-the-best-athletes-in-the-world-is-a-marvelous/) [Albert II, Prince of Monaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/) > [Nowadays, of course, flesh peddlers and scouting services identify the best athletes when they are still in junior high. Prospects are not allowed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/nowadays-of-course-flesh-peddlers-and-scouting-services-identify-the/) [Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/) > [When you look at guys who get recruited, most of the best athletes, they come from poor families. I don't forget. I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dickerson/when-you-look-at-guys-who-get-recruited-most-of-the-best-athletes/) [Eric Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dickerson/) > [The WNBA is constantly called the best league in the world, yet we don't get treated like the best athletes in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/the-wnba-is-constantly-called-the-best-league-in-the-world-yet-we-don/) [Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/) > [International Amateur Atheletic Federation had selected me in 1985 and 1986 as one of the best eight athletes in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-usha/international-amateur-atheletic-federation-had-selected-me-in-1985/) [P. T. Usha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-usha/) > [I mean, don't get me wrong, being ref is a very tough job - managing 10 of the best athletes in the world. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/i-mean-don-t-get-me-wrong-being-ref-is-a-very-tough-job-managing-10/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [I feel like I might have an idea of what goes on at Jackson-Winkeljohn's, but at the same time, that's why Coach Jackson and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-browne/i-feel-like-i-might-have-an-idea-of-what-goes-on-at-jackson/) [Travis Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-browne/) > [I feel like MMA athletes are the best athletes in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-adesanya/i-feel-like-mma-athletes-are-the-best-athletes-in-the-world/) [Israel Adesanya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-adesanya/) > [I have to improve everything to play with the best athletes in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domantas-sabonis/i-have-to-improve-everything-to-play-with-the-best-athletes-in-the/) [Domantas Sabonis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domantas-sabonis/) > [I enjoy wrestling. I enjoy the sport. I get to go against the world's best athletes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-burroughs/i-enjoy-wrestling-i-enjoy-the-sport-i-get-to-go-against-the-world-s/) [Jordan Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-burroughs/) ## More by Ada Hegerberg > [If each woman stands up and uses her voice, imagine how many voices would be together and how strong a mass that would be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-hegerberg/if-each-woman-stands-up-and-uses-her-voice-imagine-how-many-voices/) [Ada Hegerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-hegerberg/) > [I think more about preparation than numbers. If I'm well prepared, there will be results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-hegerberg/i-think-more-about-preparation-than-numbers-if-i-m-well-prepared/) [Ada Hegerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-hegerberg/) > [I know what I want and know my values, and therefore, it's easy to take hard choices when you know what the ambitions are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-hegerberg/i-know-what-i-want-and-know-my-values-and-therefore-it-s-easy-to-take/) [Ada Hegerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-hegerberg/) > [It's great that we all talk about investment, but there needs to be action behind it as well. If we don't push for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-hegerberg/it-s-great-that-we-all-talk-about-investment-but-there-needs-to-be/) [Ada Hegerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-hegerberg/) > [I'm just focused playing 100% as best as I can at my club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-hegerberg/i-m-just-focused-playing-100-as-best-as-i-can-at-my-club/) [Ada Hegerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-hegerberg/) > [I never saw myself as a women's footballer. Not when I was in my tiny village in Norway. Not when I was suffering in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-hegerberg/i-never-saw-myself-as-a-women-s-footballer-not-when-i-was-in-my-tiny/) [Ada Hegerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-hegerberg/) > [You can only have a short sight because things change a lot. You can't plan what the years will bring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-hegerberg/you-can-only-have-a-short-sight-because-things-change-a-lot-you-can-t/) [Ada Hegerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-hegerberg/) > [Obviously, I'd love to play for my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-hegerberg/obviously-i-d-love-to-play-for-my-country/) [Ada Hegerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-hegerberg/) > [We live in a world where equality is the most important thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-hegerberg/we-live-in-a-world-where-equality-is-the-most-important-thing/) [Ada Hegerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-hegerberg/) > [When you're quite sure about yourself and the values and where you want to go, it's easy to make difficult choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-hegerberg/when-you-re-quite-sure-about-yourself-and-the-values-and-where-you/) [Ada Hegerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-hegerberg/) > [Football is my biggest passion in life, and I've worked really hard to get here. It's so important to me, so I can't sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-hegerberg/football-is-my-biggest-passion-in-life-and-i-ve-worked-really-hard-to/) [Ada Hegerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-hegerberg/) > [If you want to get anywhere in life, you have to make choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-hegerberg/if-you-want-to-get-anywhere-in-life-you-have-to-make-choices/) [Ada Hegerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-hegerberg/) > [When you first win a trophy, you want to do it again and again. It keeps you hungry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-hegerberg/when-you-first-win-a-trophy-you-want-to-do-it-again-and-again-it/) [Ada Hegerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-hegerberg/) > [When you get world-class investment, you get world-class results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-hegerberg/when-you-get-world-class-investment-you-get-world-class-results/) [Ada Hegerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-hegerberg/) > [Playing football can be damn harsh, but every day is a fight for equality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-hegerberg/playing-football-can-be-damn-harsh-but-every-day-is-a-fight-for/) [Ada Hegerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-hegerberg/) [Explore all 51 Ada Hegerberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-hegerberg/) ## More Athletes quotes > [Athletes at all ages are bigger and stronger than ever before. And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [Whether it's basketball, football, baseball, you like meeting other athletes to see how their jobs work, and everything like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/whether-it-s-basketball-football-baseball-you-like-meeting-other/) [Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) > [I'd just like to see athletes awake. And aware. There's so much going on and so much to know... We stay in our little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-teter/i-d-just-like-to-see-athletes-awake-and-aware-there-s-so-much-going/) [Hannah Teter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-teter/) > [Professional athletes die twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/professional-athletes-die-twice/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [It's important for closet gay athletes everywhere, not just at the professional level, but more importantly athletes at the younger level in high school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-fujita/it-s-important-for-closet-gay-athletes-everywhere-not-just-at-the/) [Scott Fujita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-fujita/) > [Theres that initial reticence for some athletes to take you seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-guerrero/theres-that-initial-reticence-for-some-athletes-to-take-you-seriously/) [Lisa Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-guerrero/) > [I think athletes in general, your days are numbered. Any time you can kind of learn and grow from an entrepreneurship standpoint and ownership…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ingram-ii/i-think-athletes-in-general-your-days-are-numbered-any-time-you-can/) [Mark Ingram II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ingram-ii/) > [Athletes can not look the same and be great in their individual sport. The example I like to use is Gabby Douglas. She could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-carter/athletes-can-not-look-the-same-and-be-great-in-their-individual-sport/) [Michelle Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-carter/) > [“Athletes, we were supposed to just be there, and in class I made it a point that I was prepared for every exam, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-wilkens/athletes-we-were-supposed-to-just-be-there-and-in-class-i-made-it-a/) [Lenny Wilkens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-wilkens/) > [My guess is many top athletes, distance runners included, use performance-enhancing drugs, enough so that the problem must be tackled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-rodgers/my-guess-is-many-top-athletes-distance-runners-included-use/) [Bill Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-rodgers/) > [I always tell young athletes the same thing, 'Wherever you go, whatever you do, what must your top priority be? Running.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-gebrselassie/i-always-tell-young-athletes-the-same-thing-wherever-you-go-whatever/) [Haile Gebrselassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-gebrselassie/) > [The most important thing to me is to inspire all these athletes in the next generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-heath/the-most-important-thing-to-me-is-to-inspire-all-these-athletes-in/) [Tobin Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-heath/) > [Somewhere behind the athlete you have become, and hours if practice is a little girl who picked up a ball, fell in love with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/somewhere-behind-the-athlete-you-have-become-and-hours-if-practice-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Athletes love challenges, and golf is something you can never master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-horry/athletes-love-challenges-and-golf-is-something-you-can-never-master/) [Robert Horry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-horry/) > [My concentration level blocks out everything. Concentration is why some athletes are better than others. You develop that concentration in training and concentrate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-concentration-level-blocks-out-everything-concentration-is-why/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 601 Athletes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That's what defines the best athletes: being capable of showing up year after year at the highest level.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ada Hegerberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-hegerberg/that-s-what-defines-the-best-athletes-being-capable-of-showing-up/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Athletes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-hegerberg/that-s-what-defines-the-best-athletes-being-capable-of-showing-up/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd3/ada-hegerberg-13217_athletes_that-s-what-defines-the-best-athletes-be_3168765.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd3/ada-hegerberg-13217_athletes_that-s-what-defines-the-best-athletes-be_3168765.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd3/ada-hegerberg-13217_athletes_that-s-what-defines-the-best-athletes-be_3168765.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That's what defines the best athletes: being capable of showing up year after year at the highest level.” — Ada Hegerberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ada Hegerberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-hegerberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "That's what defines the best athletes:...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-hegerberg/that-s-what-defines-the-best-athletes-being-capable-of-showing-up/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-hegerberg/that-s-what-defines-the-best-athletes-being-capable-of-showing-up/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```