--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Competition in its best form is a test of…" description: "\"Competition in its best form is a test of self. It has nothing to do with medals. The winner is the person who gets the most out of themselves.\" — Al O..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaf/al-oerter-44876_competition_competition-in-its-best-form-is-a-test-o_782298.png" --- # Competition in its best form is a test of self. It has… ![“Competition in its best form is a test of self. It has nothing to do with medals. The winner is the person who gets the most out of themselves.” quote by Al Oerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaf/al-oerter-44876_competition_competition-in-its-best-form-is-a-test-o_782298.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaf/al-oerter-44876_competition_competition-in-its-best-form-is-a-test-o_782298.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaf/al-oerter-44876_competition_competition-in-its-best-form-is-a-test-o_782298.png) > “Competition in its best form is a test of self. It has nothing to do with medals. The winner is the person who gets the most out of themselves.” [Al Oerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-oerter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True competition tests personal growth, not medals; success is self‑improvement. **In simple terms:** Competition is about self‑improvement. Key Takeaway Focus on personal bests rather than external rewards. Themes self‑improvement sportsmanship intrinsic motivation Mood inspirational reflective Type sports philosophical When to use this quote - training regimens - career development - academic pursuits Key Concepts goal setting mindset resilience Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure personal success? - What habits foster self‑growth? A Different Perspective External validation can still dominate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Competition Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition-best-591948/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful/) [Medal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medal/) [Medals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medals/) [Medals Winner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medals-winner-6026229/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Olympics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympics/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self Medals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-medals-6026228/) [Softball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/softball/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Winner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winner/) ## Related quotes > [Competition is the best way to ensure prescription drugs are affordable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/competition-is-the-best-way-to-ensure-prescription-drugs-are/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [Whatever the competition, I'm always there to do my best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nyjah-huston/whatever-the-competition-i-m-always-there-to-do-my-best/) [Nyjah Huston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nyjah-huston/) > [“Competition is the best form of negotiation”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-hassel/competition-is-the-best-form-of-negotiation/) [James Van Hassel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-hassel/) > [“The only person you are ever really in competition with is yourself. Be Your Best. #Percolate”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hamilton-guarino/the-only-person-you-are-ever-really-in-competition-with-is-yourself/) [Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hamilton-guarino/) > [Competition is the best form of motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cordae/competition-is-the-best-form-of-motivation/) [Cordae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cordae/) > [Football is a competition to see who's the best, not a battle. It's not a war. When it ends, we're still alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/football-is-a-competition-to-see-who-s-the-best-not-a-battle-it-s-not/) [Thiago Alcantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-alcantara/) > [There is no competition, being the best you can be, is enough to please the God that watches over you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-competition-being-the-best-you-can-be-is-enough-to-please/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think competition is the best thing for everyone. Competition is what makes us evolve, from when we were itty bitty little tadpoles in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-show/i-think-competition-is-the-best-thing-for-everyone-competition-is/) [Big Show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-show/) > [“But as long as they gave us medals, that fixed it, as far as the army was concerned. You expect heroes to survive terrible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-kingfisher/but-as-long-as-they-gave-us-medals-that-fixed-it-as-far-as-the-army/) [T. Kingfisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-kingfisher/) > [Trophies and medals have never meant much to me. I've had amazing experiences, which let you feel like you've accomplished something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/trophies-and-medals-have-never-meant-much-to-me-i-ve-had-amazing/) [John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/) > [When you see athletes like me win gold medals, you only see the finished product, you dont see the real effort that the likes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linford-christie/when-you-see-athletes-like-me-win-gold-medals-you-only-see-the/) [Linford Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linford-christie/) > [Homosexuals in Russia live in peace, work, are promoted, receive national awards for their achievements in science, art or any other sphere, medals are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/homosexuals-in-russia-live-in-peace-work-are-promoted-receive/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [I don't know where my medals are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-don-t-know-where-my-medals-are/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I have two hands. I can hold two medals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shani-davis/i-have-two-hands-i-can-hold-two-medals/) [Shani Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shani-davis/) > [ The \[IBJJF\] medal has zero value. It means as much as this tablecloth right here, but people still kill themselves to try to get… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryron-gracie/the-ibjjf-medal-has-zero-value-it-means-as-much-as-this-tablecloth/) [Ryron Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryron-gracie/) ## More by Al Oerter > [There's no substitute for work. There are no shortcuts. There are no secrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-oerter/there-s-no-substitute-for-work-there-are-no-shortcuts-there-are-no/) [Al Oerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-oerter/) > [I don't think the discus will ever attract any interest until they let us start throwing them at each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-oerter/i-don-t-think-the-discus-will-ever-attract-any-interest-until-they/) [Al Oerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-oerter/) > [I don't compete with other discus throwers. I compete with my own history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-oerter/i-don-t-compete-with-other-discus-throwers-i-compete-with-my-own/) [Al Oerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-oerter/) > [So what if I never win my fifth gold medal; It's only one end of the string. It's competing that matters. It's proving that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-oerter/so-what-if-i-never-win-my-fifth-gold-medal-it-s-only-one-end-of-the/) [Al Oerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-oerter/) > [I never set out to beat the world. I just set out to do my absolute best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-oerter/i-never-set-out-to-beat-the-world-i-just-set-out-to-do-my-absolute/) [Al Oerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-oerter/) > [As long as I can concentrate and remain somewhat calm, I can normally do very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-oerter/as-long-as-i-can-concentrate-and-remain-somewhat-calm-i-can-normally/) [Al Oerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-oerter/) > [I don't think the discus will ever attract any interest until they let us start throwing them at one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-oerter/i-don-t-think-the-discus-will-ever-attract-any-interest-until-they-2/) [Al Oerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-oerter/) > [To exercise at or near capacity is the best way I know of reaching a true introspective state. If you do it right, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-oerter/to-exercise-at-or-near-capacity-is-the-best-way-i-know-of-reaching-a/) [Al Oerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-oerter/) [Explore all 9 Al Oerter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-oerter/) ## More Competition quotes > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [People think that the Club World Cup is an easy competition, but it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keylor-navas/people-think-that-the-club-world-cup-is-an-easy-competition-but-it-s/) [Keylor Navas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keylor-navas/) > [If you ask another competitor, they may tell you they felt very competitive towards me. But I can tell you that my biggest competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/if-you-ask-another-competitor-they-may-tell-you-they-felt-very/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [“At times, competition can be a good thing. But a person's value isn't something that can be ranked, is it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hotaru-odagiri/at-times-competition-can-be-a-good-thing-but-a-person-s-value-isn-t/) [Hotaru Odagiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hotaru-odagiri/) > [Our competition has always been anything that is wasting your time when you're bored at work. In a broad sense. We want people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/our-competition-has-always-been-anything-that-is-wasting-your-time/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [I've always considered making it legal for Americans to import their prescription drugs a free-trade issue. Imports create competition and keep domestic industry more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-grassley/i-ve-always-considered-making-it-legal-for-americans-to-import-their/) [Chuck Grassley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-grassley/) > [Honestly, we’ll compete with everybody. I love competition. As long as people invent their own stuff, I love competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/honestly-we-ll-compete-with-everybody-i-love-competition-as-long-as/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [The "health, education, and welfare" section of government is another boondoggle. First we manufacture indigent and superfluous people by legal monopolies in land, money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurance-labadie/the-health-education-and-welfare-section-of-government-is-another/) [Laurance Labadie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurance-labadie/) > [I try to keep up with everything - all wrestling across the board. I want to know what the competition is doing, what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hardy/i-try-to-keep-up-with-everything-all-wrestling-across-the-board-i/) [Matt Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hardy/) > [Sometimes in England, people look down at the Europa League, but being from the continent, I've always realised what an important competition it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mignolet/sometimes-in-england-people-look-down-at-the-europa-league-but-being/) [Simon Mignolet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mignolet/) > [“There is a scene in one of the Rocky movies where after the match Apollo Creed and Rocky are waiting for the scoring of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-passaro/there-is-a-scene-in-one-of-the-rocky-movies-where-after-the-match/) [John A. Passaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-passaro/) > [I've always written. When I was in school, the only teacher who ever liked me was my creative writing teacher. I used to enter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-townes-earle/i-ve-always-written-when-i-was-in-school-the-only-teacher-who-ever/) [Justin Townes Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-townes-earle/) > [Competition between men is a fuel that's useful to us. We have to be careful that it doesn't tell the same story over too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-irwin/competition-between-men-is-a-fuel-that-s-useful-to-us-we-have-to-be/) [Bill Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-irwin/) [Browse all 3,894 Competition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Competition in its best form is a test of self. It has nothing to do with medals. 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