---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can't believe that I just won a gold…"
description: "\"I can't believe that I just won a gold medal. I think it will take a bit to sink in.\" — Emma McKeon"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/emma-mckeon-16192_believe_i-can-t-believe-that-i-just-won-a-gold-m_743775.jpg"
---

#  I can't believe that I just won a gold medal. I think it…

![“I can't believe that I just won a gold medal. I think it will take a bit to sink in.” quote by Emma McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/emma-mckeon-16192_believe_i-can-t-believe-that-i-just-won-a-gold-m_743775.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/emma-mckeon-16192_believe_i-can-t-believe-that-i-just-won-a-gold-m_743775.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/emma-mckeon-16192_believe_i-can-t-believe-that-i-just-won-a-gold-m_743775.jpg)

> “I can't believe that I just won a gold medal. I think it will take a bit to sink in.”

[Emma McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/)

## About This Quote

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

She describes the surreal feeling of winning a gold medal and the time needed to fully process the achievement.

**In simple terms:** Winning feels unreal and takes time to absorb.

Key Takeaway

Allow yourself space to fully experience success.

Themes

achievement sports psychology celebration personal growth

Mood

proud reflective

Type

inspirational motivational

When to use this quote

- celebrating milestones
- reflecting on performance
- sharing success with team
- setting new goals

Key Concepts

self-concept emotional processing goal attainment

Questions to Reflect On

- What does this medal mean for your future goals?
- How will you maintain momentum?

A Different Perspective

The excitement may fade quickly, diminishing long‑term motivation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold/) [Gold medal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold-medal/) [Medal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medal/) [Olympics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympics/)

## Related quotes

> [In one sense we are a favorite because we won a gold medal in 2002.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/in-one-sense-we-are-a-favorite-because-we-won-a-gold-medal-in-2002/)

[Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/)

> [I just won the gold medal and I couldn't eat downtown. I said, 'Something's wrong.' And from then on, I've been a Muslim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-just-won-the-gold-medal-and-i-couldn-t-eat-downtown-i-said/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [I was blessed with a long career where I won gold medals for myself and my country. Nothing stands out as a disappointment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-devers/i-was-blessed-with-a-long-career-where-i-won-gold-medals-for-myself/)

[Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/)

> [I graduated a the top of my class in the '84 Olympic Games; I won a gold medal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hamilton/i-graduated-a-the-top-of-my-class-in-the-84-olympic-games-i-won-a/)

[Scott Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hamilton/)

> [My having won a gold medal in Beijing is not going to be an extra advantage. It does not have any bearing on how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhinav-bindra/my-having-won-a-gold-medal-in-beijing-is-not-going-to-be-an-extra/)

[Abhinav Bindra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhinav-bindra/)

> [Now I had won the gold medal. But it didn't mean anything, because I didn't have the right color skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/now-i-had-won-the-gold-medal-but-it-didn-t-mean-anything-because-i/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [When you've won a gold medal and you're at the top of your sport, everyone's trying to beat you. I find that incredibly motivating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-kearney/when-you-ve-won-a-gold-medal-and-you-re-at-the-top-of-your-sport/)

[Hannah Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-kearney/)

> [If I had to pick one exact moment when we were live on air and something very, very special happened it was at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-douglas/if-i-had-to-pick-one-exact-moment-when-we-were-live-on-air-and/)

[Jill Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-douglas/)

> [I don't think God cares if I win one gold medal or two; I think He gave us this ability and did I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cael-sanderson/i-don-t-think-god-cares-if-i-win-one-gold-medal-or-two-i-think-he/)

[Cael Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cael-sanderson/)

> [Maybe there's a little girl who thinks she can be an Olympic athlete, and she sees all the things I struggled through to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lolo-jones/maybe-there-s-a-little-girl-who-thinks-she-can-be-an-olympic-athlete/)

[Lolo Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lolo-jones/)

> [If I won another gold medal in 2012, in my home city, imagine that. To be the face of 2012, that'd be unbelievable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/if-i-won-another-gold-medal-in-2012-in-my-home-city-imagine-that-to/)

[James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/)

> [I am going to keep pushing myself and I would love to get an individual gold medal. That would be amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/i-am-going-to-keep-pushing-myself-and-i-would-love-to-get-an/)

[Emma McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/)

> [After getting a gold medal I could celebrate but also was trying to keep the emotions at bay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/after-getting-a-gold-medal-i-could-celebrate-but-also-was-trying-to/)

[Emma McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/)

> [That's what the Olympics is about - getting your name on the wall, and that gold medal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/that-s-what-the-olympics-is-about-getting-your-name-on-the-wall-and/)

[Emma McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/)

> [No matter what. Wherever your mind wanders, it seems to turn up at the same Field of Dreams. It's the vision you wake up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/no-matter-what-wherever-your-mind-wanders-it-seems-to-turn-up-at-the/)

[James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/)

## More by Emma McKeon

> [I love seeing other people swim quickly, it gives you a bit more motivation to keep pushing and get the best out of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/i-love-seeing-other-people-swim-quickly-it-gives-you-a-bit-more/)

[Emma McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/)

> [I never thought I would win two golds in one session.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/i-never-thought-i-would-win-two-golds-in-one-session/)

[Emma McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/)

> [If I was satisfied I wouldn't keep swimming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/if-i-was-satisfied-i-wouldn-t-keep-swimming/)

[Emma McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/)

> [I always love racing the 100 fly, it has just always been an event that I enjoy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/i-always-love-racing-the-100-fly-it-has-just-always-been-an-event/)

[Emma McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/)

> [I think it's just having grown up around all that, it inspires you to excel in the sport that maybe your parents did. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/i-think-it-s-just-having-grown-up-around-all-that-it-inspires-you-to/)

[Emma McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/)

> [That's what the Olympics is about - getting your name on the wall, and that gold medal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/that-s-what-the-olympics-is-about-getting-your-name-on-the-wall-and/)

[Emma McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/)

> [You can do as much training, the hardest training, and you might get there and not perform how you wanted, not because of lack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/you-can-do-as-much-training-the-hardest-training-and-you-might-get/)

[Emma McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/)

> [With the 200m free it just changes all the time whoever is at the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/with-the-200m-free-it-just-changes-all-the-time-whoever-is-at-the-top/)

[Emma McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/)

> [Growing up in sport, it is a pretty cool thing to be a part of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/growing-up-in-sport-it-is-a-pretty-cool-thing-to-be-a-part-of/)

[Emma McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/)

> [We had a backyard pool. There was often a bit of fun rivalry between us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/we-had-a-backyard-pool-there-was-often-a-bit-of-fun-rivalry-between-us/)

[Emma McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/)

> [After getting a gold medal I could celebrate but also was trying to keep the emotions at bay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/after-getting-a-gold-medal-i-could-celebrate-but-also-was-trying-to/)

[Emma McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/)

> [I remember when I was much younger maybe about five, mum, dad, David and I would all race each other one lap of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/i-remember-when-i-was-much-younger-maybe-about-five-mum-dad-david-and/)

[Emma McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/)

> [That would be nice, to become more of a leader in the team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/that-would-be-nice-to-become-more-of-a-leader-in-the-team/)

[Emma McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/)

> [I look at the athletes who have come before me and been so impressed with what they have done and been inspired by what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/i-look-at-the-athletes-who-have-come-before-me-and-been-so-impressed/)

[Emma McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/)

> [I was always faster than David when we were younger probably up until I was about 15. And he hated that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/i-was-always-faster-than-david-when-we-were-younger-probably-up-until/)

[Emma McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/)

[Explore all 40 Emma McKeon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/)

## More Believe quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/)

[Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/)

[Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/)

> [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I can't believe that I just won a gold medal. I think it will take a bit to sink in.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Emma McKeon"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/i-can-t-believe-that-i-just-won-a-gold-medal-i-think-it-will-take-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Believe"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/i-can-t-believe-that-i-just-won-a-gold-medal-i-think-it-will-take-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/emma-mckeon-16192_believe_i-can-t-believe-that-i-just-won-a-gold-m_743775.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/emma-mckeon-16192_believe_i-can-t-believe-that-i-just-won-a-gold-m_743775.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/emma-mckeon-16192_believe_i-can-t-believe-that-i-just-won-a-gold-m_743775.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I can't believe that I just won a gold medal. I think it will take a bit to sink in.” — Emma McKeon",
                "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": "Emma McKeon",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I can't believe that I just...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/i-can-t-believe-that-i-just-won-a-gold-medal-i-think-it-will-take-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/i-can-t-believe-that-i-just-won-a-gold-medal-i-think-it-will-take-a/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
