--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My advice is that going to the Olympics…" description: "\"My advice is that going to the Olympics and winning a gold medal are great goals, but the real goal should be to be the best that you can be.\" — Debi T..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/911/debi-thomas-21230_advice_my-advice-is-that-going-to-the-olympics_226283.png" --- # My advice is that going to the Olympics and winning a gold… ![“My advice is that going to the Olympics and winning a gold medal are great goals, but the real goal should be to be the best that you can be.” quote by Debi Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/911/debi-thomas-21230_advice_my-advice-is-that-going-to-the-olympics_226283.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/911/debi-thomas-21230_advice_my-advice-is-that-going-to-the-olympics_226283.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/911/debi-thomas-21230_advice_my-advice-is-that-going-to-the-olympics_226283.png) > “My advice is that going to the Olympics and winning a gold medal are great goals, but the real goal should be to be the best that you can be.” [Debi Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debi-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True fulfillment comes from personal excellence rather than external accolades. **In simple terms:** Focus on being your best self. Key Takeaway Prioritize self‑improvement over trophies. Themes personal growth excellence goal setting Mood inspired determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - athlete training - career planning - education - daily habits Key Concepts self‑actualization intrinsic motivation Questions to Reflect On - What does being your best look like today? - How can you measure personal progress beyond medals? A Different Perspective External rewards can be fleeting and may distract from lasting development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Being the best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-the-best/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold/) [Gold medal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold-medal/) [Medal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medal/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Olympics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympics/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [You always dream of going to the Olympics and winning gold. I've learned over the years that there are lots of gold medals, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerri-strug/you-always-dream-of-going-to-the-olympics-and-winning-gold-i-ve/) [Kerri Strug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerri-strug/) > [Look, I won in high school, I won a national championship in college, I want to win one in the NBA. But winning a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmelo-anthony/look-i-won-in-high-school-i-won-a-national-championship-in-college-i/) [Carmelo Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmelo-anthony/) > [Eight gold medals? If I wanted I could make a movie about me winning nine gold medals. Now that's real power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/eight-gold-medals-if-i-wanted-i-could-make-a-movie-about-me-winning/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Growing up, you always dream of winning a gold medal. But coming into these Games, it wasn't something I was focused on. I'm just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-klassen/growing-up-you-always-dream-of-winning-a-gold-medal-but-coming-into/) [Cindy Klassen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-klassen/) > [There's mornings where I have to clear my mind and think, "OK, why am I doing this? Why am I putting myself through this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-horton/there-s-mornings-where-i-have-to-clear-my-mind-and-think-ok-why-am-i/) [Jonathan Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-horton/) > [Through everything I've gone through- and I've been everywhere, at the top of the world, in jail, hung over drunk - I never gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-o-brien/through-everything-i-ve-gone-through-and-i-ve-been-everywhere-at-the/) [Dan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-o-brien/) > [Malaysia didn't end up winning any gold medals at the Rio Olympics, but had set new records and brought the nation closer, so keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azran-osman-rani/malaysia-didn-t-end-up-winning-any-gold-medals-at-the-rio-olympics/) [Azran Osman Rani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azran-osman-rani/) > [You know, me winning two gold medals, going for a third one, that's nice. But being there with Mark and my sister, and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-lopez/you-know-me-winning-two-gold-medals-going-for-a-third-one-that-s-nice/) [Diana Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-lopez/) > [Girls playing sports is not about winning gold medals. It's about self-esteem, learning to compete and learning how hard you have to work in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/girls-playing-sports-is-not-about-winning-gold-medals-it-s-about-self/) [Jackie Joyner-Kersee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/) > [Winning gold medals is incredible and obviously it's what I want to do, but there's something so special about having a little girl who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/winning-gold-medals-is-incredible-and-obviously-it-s-what-i-want-to/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [I hope I can get many goals for Real Madrid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-adebayor/i-hope-i-can-get-many-goals-for-real-madrid/) [Emmanuel Adebayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-adebayor/) > [Reaching 100 goals with Real Madrid is something I can't describe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinicius-junior/reaching-100-goals-with-real-madrid-is-something-i-can-t-describe/) [Vinicius Junior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinicius-junior/) > [It was very special to score goals for Real Madrid, especially in front of the home crowd at the Bernabeu.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klaas-jan-huntelaar/it-was-very-special-to-score-goals-for-real-madrid-especially-in/) [Klaas-Jan Huntelaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klaas-jan-huntelaar/) > [Any Man can LOVE Million Goals... But Only a Real Man Can LOVE One Goal In A Million Ways... He is the Achiever.. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/surajr/any-man-can-love-million-goals-but-only-a-real-man-can-love-one-goal/) [SurajR](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/surajr/) > [My hope is that when people read my story, it will inspire them to reach for their goals and not give up. The real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-carlson/my-hope-is-that-when-people-read-my-story-it-will-inspire-them-to/) [Gretchen Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-carlson/) ## More by Debi Thomas > [I watch a lot of professional skating, and I am really looking forward to going to nationals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-thomas/i-watch-a-lot-of-professional-skating-and-i-am-really-looking-forward/) [Debi Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debi-thomas/) > [I want people to know when I'm taking care of them I'll give it all that I've got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-thomas/i-want-people-to-know-when-i-m-taking-care-of-them-i-ll-give-it-all/) [Debi Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debi-thomas/) > [The Olympics: not one of my better memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-thomas/the-olympics-not-one-of-my-better-memories/) [Debi Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debi-thomas/) > [But I like it when my patients are impressed not knowing that I was an Olympian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-thomas/but-i-like-it-when-my-patients-are-impressed-not-knowing-that-i-was/) [Debi Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debi-thomas/) > [My mother introduced me to many different things, and figure skating was one of them. I just thought that it was magical having to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-thomas/my-mother-introduced-me-to-many-different-things-and-figure-skating/) [Debi Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debi-thomas/) > [I just thought that it was magical having to glide across the ice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-thomas/i-just-thought-that-it-was-magical-having-to-glide-across-the-ice/) [Debi Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debi-thomas/) > [I begged my mom to let me start skating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-thomas/i-begged-my-mom-to-let-me-start-skating/) [Debi Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debi-thomas/) > [I wanted to be a doctor since I was five.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-thomas/i-wanted-to-be-a-doctor-since-i-was-five/) [Debi Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debi-thomas/) > [My skating is a very emotional thing that comes from the heart, never doing it for the medal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-thomas/my-skating-is-a-very-emotional-thing-that-comes-from-the-heart-never/) [Debi Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debi-thomas/) > [I would make my mom buy me the toy doctor kit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-thomas/i-would-make-my-mom-buy-me-the-toy-doctor-kit/) [Debi Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debi-thomas/) > [Probably the '86 nationals. That was my first real national title and first real statement I ever made in figure skating, and my life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-thomas/probably-the-86-nationals-that-was-my-first-real-national-title-and/) [Debi Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debi-thomas/) > [Right now I am doing my residency in orthopedic research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-thomas/right-now-i-am-doing-my-residency-in-orthopedic-research/) [Debi Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debi-thomas/) > [I got a bronze medal and I can't complain about that, the only African-American to get a medal in the Winter Olympics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-thomas/i-got-a-bronze-medal-and-i-can-t-complain-about-that-the-only-african/) [Debi Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debi-thomas/) > [You can accomplish anything with pure persistence and drive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-thomas/you-can-accomplish-anything-with-pure-persistence-and-drive/) [Debi Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debi-thomas/) > [What was most important to me at the Olympics was going out there and performing my best. When I messed up the first jump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-thomas/what-was-most-important-to-me-at-the-olympics-was-going-out-there-and/) [Debi Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debi-thomas/) [Explore all 29 Debi Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debi-thomas/) ## More Advice quotes > [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/) Mak\_786 > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. 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I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Time is priceless. You have it, but you don't own it. You spend it, but you can't keep it. And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. Sweet, honest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/if-your-clothes-are-enough-to-drive-would-be-friends-away-they-re-not/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. 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He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-coman/my-relationship-with-ibrahimovic-was-completely-neutral-he-is-not-the/) [Kingsley Coman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-coman/) [Browse all 8,535 Advice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My advice is that going to the Olympics and winning a gold medal are great goals, but the real goal should be to be the best that you can be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Debi Thomas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-thomas/my-advice-is-that-going-to-the-olympics-and-winning-a-gold-medal-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Advice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-thomas/my-advice-is-that-going-to-the-olympics-and-winning-a-gold-medal-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/911/debi-thomas-21230_advice_my-advice-is-that-going-to-the-olympics_226283.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/911/debi-thomas-21230_advice_my-advice-is-that-going-to-the-olympics_226283.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/911/debi-thomas-21230_advice_my-advice-is-that-going-to-the-olympics_226283.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My advice is that going to the Olympics and winning a gold medal are great goals, but the real goal should…” — Debi Thomas", "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": "Debi Thomas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debi-thomas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My advice is that going to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-thomas/my-advice-is-that-going-to-the-olympics-and-winning-a-gold-medal-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-thomas/my-advice-is-that-going-to-the-olympics-and-winning-a-gold-medal-are/#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 } } ] } ```