---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been competing at a top level and…"
description: "\"I've been competing at a top level and everything in wrestling since I was young.\" — Darren Elkins"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93f/darren-elkins-9563_everything_i-ve-been-competing-at-a-top-level-and-e_1747447.jpg"
---

#  I've been competing at a top level and everything in…

![“I've been competing at a top level and everything in wrestling since I was young.” quote by Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93f/darren-elkins-9563_everything_i-ve-been-competing-at-a-top-level-and-e_1747447.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93f/darren-elkins-9563_everything_i-ve-been-competing-at-a-top-level-and-e_1747447.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93f/darren-elkins-9563_everything_i-ve-been-competing-at-a-top-level-and-e_1747447.jpg)

> “I've been competing at a top level and everything in wrestling since I was young.”

[Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Competing at elite levels from a young age shapes discipline, resilience, and identity through sport.

**In simple terms:** Early elite competition builds strong character.

Key Takeaway

Leverage sports discipline in life.

Themes

sports discipline identity resilience

Mood

motivational proud

Type

inspirational reflective

When to use this quote

- coaching
- education
- business leadership

Key Concepts

athletic development mental toughness career planning

Questions to Reflect On

- How has early competition influenced your current goals?
- What lessons from wrestling apply elsewhere?

A Different Perspective

May neglect other life areas due to sport focus.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Competing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competing/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/)

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[Bobby Lashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lashley/)

> [Just competing with top-level guys day in and day out and going through the grind with those guys brings you to another level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/just-competing-with-top-level-guys-day-in-and-day-out-and-going/)

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[Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville/)

> [I couldn't really get a grasp on wrestling at a young age. I knew it was what my parents did, and they fought people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paige/i-couldn-t-really-get-a-grasp-on-wrestling-at-a-young-age-i-knew-it/)

Paige

> [I considered wrestling at a young age, but I never could relate to any of the Divas. I have always been a bigger girl,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-jax/i-considered-wrestling-at-a-young-age-but-i-never-could-relate-to-any/)

[Nia Jax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-jax/)

> [I've been competing since I was five years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-ve-been-competing-since-i-was-five-years-old/)

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> [Training and competing at the top level are the all-consuming parts of an athlete's life: a conveyor belt with the continuous goal of proving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/training-and-competing-at-the-top-level-are-the-all-consuming-parts/)

[Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/)

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[Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/)

> [I'm used to playing for a high level team that expects to win, to be competing at this level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andreas-pereira/i-m-used-to-playing-for-a-high-level-team-that-expects-to-win-to-be/)

[Andreas Pereira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andreas-pereira/)

## More by Darren Elkins

> [I always stay in shape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/i-always-stay-in-shape/)

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> [I've been wrestling since I was 4, so it's more a thing that's just a part of me now. It's toughened me mentally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/i-ve-been-wrestling-since-i-was-4-so-it-s-more-a-thing-that-s-just-a/)

[Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/)

> [I'm a hard worker and I get in there and no matter what, I train hard every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/i-m-a-hard-worker-and-i-get-in-there-and-no-matter-what-i-train-hard/)

[Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/)

> [If I let all the pressure get to me then I'm not going to fight the fight that I want to fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/if-i-let-all-the-pressure-get-to-me-then-i-m-not-going-to-fight-the/)

[Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/)

> [I mean, I prefer negative energy. That pumps me up a little bit more, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/i-mean-i-prefer-negative-energy-that-pumps-me-up-a-little-bit-more/)

[Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/)

> [Guys like Michael Johnson, they don't throw fake punches, they knock people out usually. But I take 'em; I take 'em well. And when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/guys-like-michael-johnson-they-don-t-throw-fake-punches-they-knock/)

[Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/)

> [You've got to be mentally tough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/you-ve-got-to-be-mentally-tough/)

[Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/)

> [I want to fight for the championship. That's my ultimate goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/i-want-to-fight-for-the-championship-that-s-my-ultimate-goal/)

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> [I read books to keep my mind sharp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/i-read-books-to-keep-my-mind-sharp/)

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[Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/)

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