--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a kid growing up in Latrobe, PA, I…" description: "\"As a kid growing up in Latrobe, PA, I could dream about being an Olympian like Jesse Owens or Johnny Weissmuller. I could also dream about being a grea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a5/arnold-palmer-2127_being_as-a-kid-growing-up-in-latrobe-pa-i-coul_1419365.jpg" --- # As a kid growing up in Latrobe, PA, I could dream about… ![“As a kid growing up in Latrobe, PA, I could dream about being an Olympian like Jesse Owens or Johnny Weissmuller. I could also dream about being a great golfer like Bobby Jones or Byron Nelson. But the idea of being an Olympic golfer never occurred to me.” quote by Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a5/arnold-palmer-2127_being_as-a-kid-growing-up-in-latrobe-pa-i-coul_1419365.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a5/arnold-palmer-2127_being_as-a-kid-growing-up-in-latrobe-pa-i-coul_1419365.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a5/arnold-palmer-2127_being_as-a-kid-growing-up-in-latrobe-pa-i-coul_1419365.jpg) > “As a kid growing up in Latrobe, PA, I could dream about being an Olympian like Jesse Owens or Johnny Weissmuller. I could also dream about being a great golfer like Bobby Jones or Byron Nelson. But the idea of being an Olympic golfer never occurred to me.” [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dreams of athletic greatness can be shaped by role models, yet some paths remain unseen until imagined. **In simple terms:** Dreams need role models, but also imagination. Key Takeaway Explore new possibilities beyond familiar heroes. Themes ambition role models imagination Mood optimistic determined Type motivational visionary When to use this quote - career planning - sports training - personal development - goal visualization Key Concepts Self‑efficacy goal setting creative thinking Questions to Reflect On - What new sport could you pursue? - How can you turn imagination into actionable goals? A Different Perspective May set unrealistic expectations or ignore practical constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dream Olympian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream-olympian-1352189/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesse-owens/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Olympian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympian/) [Olympian Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympian-like-1651027/) [Olympic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympic/) [Olympic Golfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympic-golfer-5022290/) [Olympics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympics/) ## Related quotes > [I was really good at a young age, but every day I had to walk in the house, and walk past my dad's jersey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rj-barrett/i-was-really-good-at-a-young-age-but-every-day-i-had-to-walk-in-the/) [RJ Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rj-barrett/) > [My lifelong dream was to be an Olympian and a gold medalist - and I got it at 26.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/my-lifelong-dream-was-to-be-an-olympian-and-a-gold-medalist-and-i-got/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [It's always been a dream of mine to be an Olympian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-sauerbrunn/it-s-always-been-a-dream-of-mine-to-be-an-olympian/) [Becky Sauerbrunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-sauerbrunn/) > [I'm a two-time Olympian, but ever since I was a little girl, the Olympic dream has influenced me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/i-m-a-two-time-olympian-but-ever-since-i-was-a-little-girl-the/) [Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/) > [Former Olympians also get paid to make appearances. Many of them won their medals in an era when Olympic success didn't go hand-in-hand with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lou-retton/former-olympians-also-get-paid-to-make-appearances-many-of-them-won/) [Mary Lou Retton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lou-retton/) > [It means a lot to be an Olympian. I'm obviously so grateful and feel so lucky I was able to achieve my dream of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-lipinski/it-means-a-lot-to-be-an-olympian-i-m-obviously-so-grateful-and-feel/) [Tara Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-lipinski/) > [You don't become an Olympic medallist overnight and even after you do become an Olympian it doesn't make everything go away and you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-labbe/you-don-t-become-an-olympic-medallist-overnight-and-even-after-you-do/) [Stephanie Labbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-labbe/) > [ I carried \[Rudy\] softly through the broken street...with him I tried a little harder \[at comforting\]. I watched the contents of his soul for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-carried-rudy-softly-through-the-broken-street-with-him-i-tried-a/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [ I knew \[Jesse Owens'\] name, but I really didn't remember what it is he had done, so I felt like I had to get… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-knew-jesse-owens-name-but-i-really-didn-t-remember-what-it-is-he/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [“The tears grappled with her face. Rudy, please, wake up, Goddamn it, wale up, I love you. Come on, Rudy, come on, Jesse Owens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/the-tears-grappled-with-her-face-rudy-please-wake-up-goddamn-it-wale/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Sacrifice. I'd never been in a position where I was number one on the call sheet, and everything was in my lap. I worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/sacrifice-i-d-never-been-in-a-position-where-i-was-number-one-on-the/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [“And I'm not too great at that sort of comforting thing, especially when my hands are cold and the bed is warm. I carried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/and-i-m-not-too-great-at-that-sort-of-comforting-thing-especially/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Jesse Owens had to be a very strong person. There were a lot of protests, but I think that he knew, despite the pressure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/jesse-owens-had-to-be-a-very-strong-person-there-were-a-lot-of/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [“Rudy, please, wake up. God damn it, wake up, I love you. Come on, Rudy, come on, Jesse Owens, don't you know I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/rudy-please-wake-up-god-damn-it-wake-up-i-love-you-come-on-rudy-come/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [He was highly annoyed by the series of triumphs by the marvelous colored American runner, Jesse Owens. People whose antecedents came from the jungle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-speer/he-was-highly-annoyed-by-the-series-of-triumphs-by-the-marvelous/) [Albert Speer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-speer/) ## More by Arnold Palmer > [The whole secret to mastering the game of golf - and this applies to the beginner as well as the pro - is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/the-whole-secret-to-mastering-the-game-of-golf-and-this-applies-to/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [If you're stupid enough to whiff, you should be smart enough to forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/if-you-re-stupid-enough-to-whiff-you-should-be-smart-enough-to-forget/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [I would urge the government to allocate more funds toward fighting cancer. My own situation, it made me think. It made me think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-would-urge-the-government-to-allocate-more-funds-toward-fighting/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [I’m particularly proud of anything the House and the Senate agree on,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-m-particularly-proud-of-anything-the-house-and-the-senate-agree-on/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [I love America. I wanted to play golf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-love-america-i-wanted-to-play-golf/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [I've always been a big thinker that the more international competition that we create through sports the better relationships we'll have with countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-ve-always-been-a-big-thinker-that-the-more-international/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [I would not have been able to accomplish a lot of what I did professionally had I not learned to fly myself and owned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-would-not-have-been-able-to-accomplish-a-lot-of-what-i-did/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [I've always made a total effort, even when the odds seemed entirely against me. I never quit trying; I never felt that I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-ve-always-made-a-total-effort-even-when-the-odds-seemed-entirely/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [You don't go to Palm Springs in the summer unless you're building a golf course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/you-don-t-go-to-palm-springs-in-the-summer-unless-you-re-building-a/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [A lot of tournaments that I can remember I made a few bad shots and I was afraid I would lose the tournament and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/a-lot-of-tournaments-that-i-can-remember-i-made-a-few-bad-shots-and-i/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [ I played with \[Dwight Eisenhower\] on the day after I won the Masters at his request. We became everlasting friends. I was with him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-played-with-dwight-eisenhower-on-the-day-after-i-won-the-masters-at/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [I was national amateur champion. I was 24 years old. My father was there, and I couldn't wait to see him, and my mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-was-national-amateur-champion-i-was-24-years-old-my-father-was/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [I think I've heard somebody say that I was a well-dressed golfer. I guess that has something to do with the fact that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-think-i-ve-heard-somebody-say-that-i-was-a-well-dressed-golfer-i/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [I fly my own airplane, and I have since 1960. I rarely fly anywhere other than my own airplane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-fly-my-own-airplane-and-i-have-since-1960-i-rarely-fly-anywhere/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [The most rewarding things you do in life are often the ones that look like they cannot be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/the-most-rewarding-things-you-do-in-life-are-often-the-ones-that-look/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) [Explore all 184 Arnold Palmer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) ## More Being quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [We should not live in fear, we should all enjoy being able to express our views freely and openly, challenge each other on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-should-not-live-in-fear-we-should-all-enjoy-being-able-to-express/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) [Browse all 18,139 Being quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a kid growing up in Latrobe, PA, I could dream about being an Olympian like Jesse Owens or Johnny Weissmuller. I could also dream about being a great golfer like Bobby Jones or Byron Nelson. 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