--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think the discus will ever…" description: "\"I don't think the discus will ever attract any interest until they let us start throwing them at one another.\" — Al Oerter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/al-oerter-44876_athletics_i-don-t-think-the-discus-will-ever-attra_2431696.png" --- # I don't think the discus will ever attract any interest… ![“I don't think the discus will ever attract any interest until they let us start throwing them at one another.” quote by Al Oerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/al-oerter-44876_athletics_i-don-t-think-the-discus-will-ever-attra_2431696.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/al-oerter-44876_athletics_i-don-t-think-the-discus-will-ever-attra_2431696.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/al-oerter-44876_athletics_i-don-t-think-the-discus-will-ever-attra_2431696.png) > “I don't think the discus will ever attract any interest until they let us start throwing them at one another.” [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. People only become interested when they can directly engage with an activity, not just observe it. **In simple terms:** Interest follows participation. Key Takeaway Create hands‑on experiences. Themes engagement interest participation Mood curious inspired Type educational motivational When to use this quote - sports events - classroom experiments - team building - product demos Key Concepts psychology motivation Questions to Reflect On - How can we design safe, engaging experiences? - What barriers prevent participation? A Different Perspective If the activity is unsafe or impractical, interest may still be low. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athletics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletics/) [Bloopers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bloopers/) [Discus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discus-289637/) [Discus Attract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discus-attract-289635/) [Entertaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertaining/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Motivational sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational-sports/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Start Throwing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start-throwing-289638/) [Think Discus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-discus-289636/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Throwing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throwing/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [The Games have been decimated. If you take away the Eastern Bloc, you take away 50% of the medals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-pickering/the-games-have-been-decimated-if-you-take-away-the-eastern-bloc-you/) [Ron Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-pickering/) > [Steve Ovett, Sebastian Coe, Steve Cram - the vanguard of our cream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-pickering/steve-ovett-sebastian-coe-steve-cram-the-vanguard-of-our-cream/) [Ron Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-pickering/) > [That's the fastest time ever run - but it's not as fast as the world record](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-coleman/that-s-the-fastest-time-ever-run-but-it-s-not-as-fast-as-the-world/) [David Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-coleman/) > [The Americans sowed the seed, and now they have reaped the whirlwind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-coe/the-americans-sowed-the-seed-and-now-they-have-reaped-the-whirlwind/) [Sebastian Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-coe/) > [On the £20,000 Mercedes prizes for each winner at the World Athletics Championships in Stuttgart- Anyone good enough to win already has one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/on-the-20-000-mercedes-prizes-for-each-winner-at-the-world-athletics/) [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) > [Ingrid Kristiansen then has smashed the world record, running the 5000 metres in 14:58.89. Truly amazing. Incidentally, this is a personal best for Ingrid Kristiansen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-coleman/ingrid-kristiansen-then-has-smashed-the-world-record-running-the-5000/) [David Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-coleman/) > [In a moment, we hope to see the pole vault over the satellite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-coleman/in-a-moment-we-hope-to-see-the-pole-vault-over-the-satellite/) [David Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-coleman/) > [We estimate, and this isn't an estimation, that Greta Waitz is 80 seconds behind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-coleman/we-estimate-and-this-isn-t-an-estimation-that-greta-waitz-is-80/) [David Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-coleman/) > [The American's head are on their chins a little bit at the moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-pickering/the-american-s-head-are-on-their-chins-a-little-bit-at-the-moment/) [Ron Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-pickering/) > [If Diane Modahl was 40 times over the testosterone limit she'd have a deep voice and we'd all be calling her Barry White.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-jarrett/if-diane-modahl-was-40-times-over-the-testosterone-limit-she-d-have-a/) [Tony Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-jarrett/) > [The Republic-of-China - back in the Olympic Games for the first time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-coleman/the-republic-of-china-back-in-the-olympic-games-for-the-first-time/) [David Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-coleman/) > [And with alphabetical irony Nigeria follows New Zealand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-coleman/and-with-alphabetical-irony-nigeria-follows-new-zealand/) [David Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-coleman/) > [And there's no "I love you" message because Steve Ovett has married the girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-coleman/and-there-s-no-i-love-you-message-because-steve-ovett-has-married-the/) [David Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-coleman/) ## 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/) > [Competition in its best form is a test of self. It has nothing to do with medals. The winner is the person who gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-oerter/competition-in-its-best-form-is-a-test-of-self-it-has-nothing-to-do/) [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/) > [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 Athletics quotes > [We want to promote the great quality of athletics - and maintain it's integrity - all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-juantorena/we-want-to-promote-the-great-quality-of-athletics-and-maintain-it-s/) [Alberto Juantorena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-juantorena/) > [Combining the experience of a seasoned university president with the analysis of a respected legal scholar, Derek Bok explores what he concludes are 'signs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-h-t-rhodes/combining-the-experience-of-a-seasoned-university-president-with-the/) [Frank H. T. Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-h-t-rhodes/) > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [The Games have been decimated. If you take away the Eastern Bloc, you take away 50% of the medals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-pickering/the-games-have-been-decimated-if-you-take-away-the-eastern-bloc-you/) [Ron Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-pickering/) > [If you have the sense of participation in sports or athletics, of being a player, then you are not really into the Zen mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-have-the-sense-of-participation-in-sports-or-athletics-of/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [While receiving radiation treatment for a thyroid illness, I had refused to take beta-blockers - a medication that would have eased its side effects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-devers/while-receiving-radiation-treatment-for-a-thyroid-illness-i-had/) [Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/) > [Everyone is an athlete. The only difference is that some of us are in training, and some are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-sheehan/everyone-is-an-athlete-the-only-difference-is-that-some-of-us-are-in/) [George A. Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-sheehan/) > [And with alphabetical irony Nigeria follows New Zealand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-coleman/and-with-alphabetical-irony-nigeria-follows-new-zealand/) [David Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-coleman/) > [The very advanced practitioners of martial arts never had to raise a hand. They could knock an opponent down without physically touching them, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-very-advanced-practitioners-of-martial-arts-never-had-to-raise-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [There's discussion in athletics about how sport - where they say 'SportsCenter' has ruined the fundamentals of basketball because it's - it only applauds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pfeiffer/there-s-discussion-in-athletics-about-how-sport-where-they-say/) [Dan Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pfeiffer/) > [In the game of Frisbee you throw the disk to someone else. The point of Frisbee is perfect communication. The person at the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/in-the-game-of-frisbee-you-throw-the-disk-to-someone-else-the-point/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Physical perfection, working out, adds to your spiritual perfection if that is your intent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/physical-perfection-working-out-adds-to-your-spiritual-perfection-if/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [If you get a great wife who understands the demands of someone in athletics, I think that's important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-romo/if-you-get-a-great-wife-who-understands-the-demands-of-someone-in/) [Tony Romo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-romo/) > [Few would deny that blacks have become very dominant in athletics: football, basketball, track, now dominant in tennis and dominant in golf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/few-would-deny-that-blacks-have-become-very-dominant-in-athletics/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Participating in athletics gives all students an opportunity to learn about themselves, to compete, to negotiate with a team and learn skills that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/participating-in-athletics-gives-all-students-an-opportunity-to-learn/) [Miguel Cardona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/) [Browse all 347 Athletics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think the discus will ever attract any interest until they let us start throwing them at one another.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Al Oerter" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-oerter/i-don-t-think-the-discus-will-ever-attract-any-interest-until-they-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Athletics" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-oerter/i-don-t-think-the-discus-will-ever-attract-any-interest-until-they-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/al-oerter-44876_athletics_i-don-t-think-the-discus-will-ever-attra_2431696.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/al-oerter-44876_athletics_i-don-t-think-the-discus-will-ever-attra_2431696.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/al-oerter-44876_athletics_i-don-t-think-the-discus-will-ever-attra_2431696.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't think the discus will ever attract any interest until they let us start throwing them at one another.” — Al Oerter", "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": "Al Oerter", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-oerter/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't think the discus will...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-oerter/i-don-t-think-the-discus-will-ever-attract-any-interest-until-they-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-oerter/i-don-t-think-the-discus-will-ever-attract-any-interest-until-they-2/#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 } } ] } ```