---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I remember being a 17-year-old wheelchair…"
description: "\"I remember being a 17-year-old wheelchair basketballer at the Paralympics. I just wanted to beat everybody, but I also wanted to do it in a good way, b..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7e/dylan-alcott-5673_basketball_i-remember-being-a-17-year-old-wheelchai_23430.jpg"
---

#  I remember being a 17-year-old wheelchair basketballer at…

![“I remember being a 17-year-old wheelchair basketballer at the Paralympics. I just wanted to beat everybody, but I also wanted to do it in a good way, be a nice person.” quote by Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7e/dylan-alcott-5673_basketball_i-remember-being-a-17-year-old-wheelchai_23430.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7e/dylan-alcott-5673_basketball_i-remember-being-a-17-year-old-wheelchai_23430.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7e/dylan-alcott-5673_basketball_i-remember-being-a-17-year-old-wheelchai_23430.jpg)

> “I remember being a 17-year-old wheelchair basketballer at the Paralympics. I just wanted to beat everybody, but I also wanted to do it in a good way, be a nice person.”

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

## About This Quote

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

A young athlete strives for competitive success while emphasizing sportsmanship and kindness.

**In simple terms:** Winning with integrity.

Key Takeaway

Compete, yet stay gracious.

Themes

sportsmanship determination yivity youth competition

Mood

inspired determined

Type

personal anecdote motivational

When to use this quote

- team sports
- youth tournaments
- paralympic events

Key Concepts

athletics ethics personal growth

Practical Applications

- coaching philosophy
- motivational speaking

Questions to Reflect On

- How can one balance ambition with humility?
- What does "good way" mean in competition?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Olympics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympics/) [Wheelchair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wheelchair/)

## Related quotes

> [Watching Nyree Lewis get her medal in the 100 backstroke inspired me to want to go to a Paralympics and it just went on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/watching-nyree-lewis-get-her-medal-in-the-100-backstroke-inspired-me/)

[Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/)

> [Having all that experience, and that success as well, at a Paralympics was just amazing but I don't really remember much from Beijing, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/having-all-that-experience-and-that-success-as-well-at-a-paralympics/)

[Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/)

> [Let's not forget that the Paralympics, just like the Olympics, are built on a rich history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-young/let-s-not-forget-that-the-paralympics-just-like-the-olympics-are/)

[Stella Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-young/)

> [People used to stare at me when I was growing up because I was in a wheelchair, and I hated it. Now they're staring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/people-used-to-stare-at-me-when-i-was-growing-up-because-i-was-in-a/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [As a kid with disability, if you told me anybody in a wheelchair, let alone myself, would be Australian of the Year later, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/as-a-kid-with-disability-if-you-told-me-anybody-in-a-wheelchair-let/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [When I hated myself, I went to a tennis tournament. I was no good but I played. And when I got there, I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/when-i-hated-myself-i-went-to-a-tennis-tournament-i-was-no-good-but-i/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [I think you can do anything in this life whether you're in a wheelchair or not. I go to festivals, nightclubs, I travel the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-think-you-can-do-anything-in-this-life-whether-you-re-in-a/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [When I first played tennis... I was 11 or 12... and the craziest bit about that tennis tournament is that I had never seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/when-i-first-played-tennis-i-was-11-or-12-and-the-craziest-bit-about/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [I questioned whether anyone would love me because I'm in a wheelchair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-questioned-whether-anyone-would-love-me-because-i-m-in-a-wheelchair/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [If I could take a magic pill that would mean I'm not in a wheelchair anymore, you couldn't pay me enough to take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/if-i-could-take-a-magic-pill-that-would-mean-i-m-not-in-a-wheelchair/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [One of the things I struggled with growing up was that that I never saw anyone like me on TV or in the newspaper.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/one-of-the-things-i-struggled-with-growing-up-was-that-that-i-never/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [I'm proud to play wheelchair tennis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-m-proud-to-play-wheelchair-tennis/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [Starlight Foundation gave me a wish to go away for a trip, which was really amazing at the time, and Variety Children's Charity gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/starlight-foundation-gave-me-a-wish-to-go-away-for-a-trip-which-was/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [Playing tennis and wheelchair basketball has opened a lot of doors for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/playing-tennis-and-wheelchair-basketball-has-opened-a-lot-of-doors/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [On a good day everybody can beat everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hughton/on-a-good-day-everybody-can-beat-everybody/)

[Chris Hughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hughton/)

## More by Dylan Alcott

> [It's interesting, I don't really think too much about being a role model or leaving a legacy or whatever. It's just not how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/it-s-interesting-i-don-t-really-think-too-much-about-being-a-role/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [Early '90s hip hop is my thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/early-90s-hip-hop-is-my-thing/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [I love my disability. It is the best thing that ever happened to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-love-my-disability-it-is-the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-me/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [I want to do all kinds of stuff and it's hard to do it all at once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-want-to-do-all-kinds-of-stuff-and-it-s-hard-to-do-it-all-at-once/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [People used to stare at me when I was growing up because I was in a wheelchair, and I hated it. Now they're staring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/people-used-to-stare-at-me-when-i-was-growing-up-because-i-was-in-a/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [Starlight Foundation gave me a wish to go away for a trip, which was really amazing at the time, and Variety Children's Charity gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/starlight-foundation-gave-me-a-wish-to-go-away-for-a-trip-which-was/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [One thing I struggled with the most was my brother started playing football, AFL and I remember I went down and wanted to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/one-thing-i-struggled-with-the-most-was-my-brother-started-playing/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [I can't tell you how much I struggled after the golden slam. I had actual depression. I hadn't seen my family - it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-can-t-tell-you-how-much-i-struggled-after-the-golden-slam-i-had/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [Well, I call the Olympic Games the crappy warm ups for the Paralympic Games, right? Once every four years people with disability are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/well-i-call-the-olympic-games-the-crappy-warm-ups-for-the-paralympic/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [More people need to be proud of their disability instead of shying away from it, because as soon as I became proud of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/more-people-need-to-be-proud-of-their-disability-instead-of-shying/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [That's why I love the Paralympics. For two weeks, it's the big show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/that-s-why-i-love-the-paralympics-for-two-weeks-it-s-the-big-show/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [We have the best Paralympic sport in the world because of the integration with the able-bodied tour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/we-have-the-best-paralympic-sport-in-the-world-because-of-the/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [I wear a lot of black, mate, I'm from Melbourne. It's cool to wear black, isn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-wear-a-lot-of-black-mate-i-m-from-melbourne-it-s-cool-to-wear-black/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [I got bullied because of my disability, I used to get called a cripple or a spastic everywhere I went.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-got-bullied-because-of-my-disability-i-used-to-get-called-a-cripple/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [I'm proud to play wheelchair tennis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-m-proud-to-play-wheelchair-tennis/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

[Explore all 100 Dylan Alcott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

## More Basketball quotes

> [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/)

[Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/)

> [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/)

[Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/)

> [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/)

[Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/)

> [I learned so much from Sue about the Xs and Os of the game of basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-learned-so-much-from-sue-about-the-xs-and-os-of-the-game-of/)

[Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/)

> [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/)

[Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/)

> [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/)

[John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/)

> [Basketball isn't just a sport to me ; it's my ecstasy !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamira-robinson/basketball-isn-t-just-a-sport-to-me-it-s-my-ecstasy/)

[Jamira Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamira-robinson/)

> [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/)

[Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/)

> [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/)

[Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/)

> [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/)

[Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/)

> [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/)

[Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/)

> [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/)

[Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/)

> [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. I'm a gym rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-m-a-competitive-person-i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-m-a-gym-rat/)

[Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/)

> [I am both humbled and honored to receive the Honda Sports Award for women's basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-am-both-humbled-and-honored-to-receive-the-honda-sports-award-for/)

[Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/)

> [What I've talked about the entire series and throughout this playoffs is about intensity and effort, desire and will of our players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laimbeer/what-i-ve-talked-about-the-entire-series-and-throughout-this-playoffs/)

[Bill Laimbeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laimbeer/)

[Browse all 5,387 Basketball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I remember being a 17-year-old wheelchair basketballer at the Paralympics. I just wanted to beat everybody, but I also wanted to do it in a good way, be a nice person.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dylan Alcott"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-remember-being-a-17-year-old-wheelchair-basketballer-at-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Basketball"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-remember-being-a-17-year-old-wheelchair-basketballer-at-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7e/dylan-alcott-5673_basketball_i-remember-being-a-17-year-old-wheelchai_23430.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7e/dylan-alcott-5673_basketball_i-remember-being-a-17-year-old-wheelchai_23430.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7e/dylan-alcott-5673_basketball_i-remember-being-a-17-year-old-wheelchai_23430.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I remember being a 17-year-old wheelchair basketballer at the Paralympics. I just wanted to beat everybody…” — Dylan Alcott",
                "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": "Dylan Alcott",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I remember being a 17-year-old wheelchair...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-remember-being-a-17-year-old-wheelchair-basketballer-at-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-remember-being-a-17-year-old-wheelchair-basketballer-at-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
