--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was skating you had to participate…" description: "\"When I was skating you had to participate in every thing.\" — Eric Heiden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/eric-heiden-22924_olympics_when-i-was-skating-you-had-to-participat_142976.jpg" --- # When I was skating you had to participate in every thing. ![“When I was skating you had to participate in every thing.” quote by Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/eric-heiden-22924_olympics_when-i-was-skating-you-had-to-participat_142976.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/eric-heiden-22924_olympics_when-i-was-skating-you-had-to-participat_142976.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/eric-heiden-22924_olympics_when-i-was-skating-you-had-to-participat_142976.jpg) > “When I was skating you had to participate in every thing.” [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Active participation is essential in every endeavor to achieve success. **In simple terms:** Be fully involved in all tasks. Key Takeaway Engage completely. Themes commitment participation excellence Mood motivational serious Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - training - project work - group activities - performance improvement Key Concepts sports psychology team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Are you fully present in your current projects? - What limits your participation? A Different Perspective Overcommitment can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Olympics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympics/) [Participate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/participate/) [Participate Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/participate-thing-1611172/) [Skating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skating/) [Skating Participate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skating-participate-1611171/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) ## Related quotes > [I decided to host my show 'Kiss and Cry' hoping that people actually want to participate and feel more familiar with figure skating. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuna-kim/i-decided-to-host-my-show-kiss-and-cry-hoping-that-people-actually/) [Yuna Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuna-kim/) > [I would recommend anybody who gets a chance to see short track skating, make it a point to go out there when Apolo is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/i-would-recommend-anybody-who-gets-a-chance-to-see-short-track/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [When you go ice-skating, try not to swing your arms too much, because that really annoys me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/when-you-go-ice-skating-try-not-to-swing-your-arms-too-much-because/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [When I was a kid, I used to wake up every single day and skateboard. All I would think about is skating, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doja-cat/when-i-was-a-kid-i-used-to-wake-up-every-single-day-and-skateboard/) [Doja Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doja-cat/) > [I got a pair of roller skates for Christmas when I was 4 or 5 or something, so I had a pair as kid.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-got-a-pair-of-roller-skates-for-christmas-when-i-was-4-or-5-or/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [The mind is pretty powerful. In skating, you learn to click into that zone and focus not necessarily on what you're doing but if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-hamill/the-mind-is-pretty-powerful-in-skating-you-learn-to-click-into-that/) [Dorothy Hamill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-hamill/) > [Skating is one of those sports you unfortunately see people get stuck in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-wagner/skating-is-one-of-those-sports-you-unfortunately-see-people-get-stuck/) [Ashley Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-wagner/) > [If you're skating on thin ice, you might as well dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-shreve/if-you-re-skating-on-thin-ice-you-might-as-well-dance/) [Anita Shreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-shreve/) > [I'd like to cause a little riot in skating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-cohen/i-d-like-to-cause-a-little-riot-in-skating/) [Sasha Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-cohen/) > [Figure skating is theatrical, and a part of it is wearing costumes. My costumes were very over-the-top and outrageous for figure skating. But for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/figure-skating-is-theatrical-and-a-part-of-it-is-wearing-costumes-my/) [Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/) > [Skating has always been a major area of interest to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-cohen/skating-has-always-been-a-major-area-of-interest-to-me/) [Sasha Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-cohen/) > [Skating is in my heart, not my head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/skating-is-in-my-heart-not-my-head/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [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/) > [Skating is a sport that I found a lot of interest in from a very, very young age. Ultimately, I think that being on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-chen/skating-is-a-sport-that-i-found-a-lot-of-interest-in-from-a-very-very/) [Nathan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-chen/) > [I think skating helped me find myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-fleming/i-think-skating-helped-me-find-myself/) [Peggy Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-fleming/) ## More by Eric Heiden > [We never did a lot of weights, but a lot of repetitions. The most I would use doing squats was 300 pounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/we-never-did-a-lot-of-weights-but-a-lot-of-repetitions-the-most-i/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [I really liked it best when I was a nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/i-really-liked-it-best-when-i-was-a-nobody/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [It is not the events in our life that define our character, but how we deal with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/it-is-not-the-events-in-our-life-that-define-our-character-but-how-we/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [I mean you got to thank your parents for giving you the right genes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/i-mean-you-got-to-thank-your-parents-for-giving-you-the-right-genes/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [You don't really want to load up a whole lot, probably anything more than four hours before the race. I needed something to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/you-don-t-really-want-to-load-up-a-whole-lot-probably-anything-more/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [I'd rather get a nice warmup suit. That's something I can use. Gold medals just sit there. When I get old, maybe I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/i-d-rather-get-a-nice-warmup-suit-that-s-something-i-can-use-gold/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [On today's athletes: I wish I could turn back the clock a little bit so I'd have a chance to cut it up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/on-today-s-athletes-i-wish-i-could-turn-back-the-clock-a-little-bit/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [I had the drive to pursue speedskating and I found a sport that I was good at. If I'd got into cycling, I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/i-had-the-drive-to-pursue-speedskating-and-i-found-a-sport-that-i-was/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [In general, I enjoy athletes who have a strong character who let their abilities speak for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/in-general-i-enjoy-athletes-who-have-a-strong-character-who-let-their/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [Heck, gold medals, what can you do with them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/heck-gold-medals-what-can-you-do-with-them/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [It's not a sport you get famous at. If I wanted to be famous, I would have stuck with hockey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/it-s-not-a-sport-you-get-famous-at-if-i-wanted-to-be-famous-i-would/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [They're just big in the eyes of the American public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/they-re-just-big-in-the-eyes-of-the-american-public/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [Cyclists, I work with a number of cyclists. They are great athletes; they are great aerobic athletes. If you ask them to hit a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/cyclists-i-work-with-a-number-of-cyclists-they-are-great-athletes/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [Immediately after the Olympics, I was pretty fatigued.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/immediately-after-the-olympics-i-was-pretty-fatigued/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [How much you move affects your strength, your power, your balance, how you look, how you think, how well you withstand the high winds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/how-much-you-move-affects-your-strength-your-power-your-balance-how/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) [Explore all 26 Eric Heiden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) ## More Olympics quotes > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [My first Olympics memory was watching Haile Gebrselassie in Sydney 2000. His sprint finish to defend his title really moved me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-farah/my-first-olympics-memory-was-watching-haile-gebrselassie-in-sydney/) [Mo Farah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-farah/) > [When I was 3, my parents strapped on a pair of Playskool plastic roller skates to my feet, and that's where the story begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-celski/when-i-was-3-my-parents-strapped-on-a-pair-of-playskool-plastic/) [J. R. Celski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-celski/) > [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/) > [Skateboarding is training, but I don't think of it as training. It's fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-white/skateboarding-is-training-but-i-don-t-think-of-it-as-training-it-s-fun/) [Shaun White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-white/) > [All the people in Korea are cheering me like I'm a gold medalist or something, so I have a responsibility to my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/psy/all-the-people-in-korea-are-cheering-me-like-i-m-a-gold-medalist-or/) [PSY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/psy/) > [I miss my kids, and they miss me. It's very difficult, but I have to do it for my country and fulfill my dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kom/i-miss-my-kids-and-they-miss-me-it-s-very-difficult-but-i-have-to-do/) [Mary Kom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kom/) > [If there were a category in the Olympics for laundry, my mother would have been a gold-medal winner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/if-there-were-a-category-in-the-olympics-for-laundry-my-mother-would/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [Sporting events like the Olympics have developed and maintained a clear message of promoting gender equality as an essential criterion in the success of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-attias/sporting-events-like-the-olympics-have-developed-and-maintained-a/) [Richard Attias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-attias/) > [There are 16 year olds competing at the olympics and i still push on pull doors & struggle getting through the whole day without a nap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-eastwood/there-are-16-year-olds-competing-at-the-olympics-and-i-still-push-on/) [Scott Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-eastwood/) > [Think about how much skateboarding opens your eyes to see the world differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-humphrys/think-about-how-much-skateboarding-opens-your-eyes-to-see-the-world/) [John Humphrys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-humphrys/) > [The Games have been decimated. If you take away the Eastern Bloc, you take away 50% of the medals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-pickering/the-games-have-been-decimated-if-you-take-away-the-eastern-bloc-you/) [Ron Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-pickering/) > [I think skating helped me find myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-fleming/i-think-skating-helped-me-find-myself/) [Peggy Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-fleming/) > [Anyone who's been the Olympic trials before is a veteran.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/anyone-who-s-been-the-olympic-trials-before-is-a-veteran/) [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) [Browse all 3,155 Olympics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was skating you had to participate in every thing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Heiden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/when-i-was-skating-you-had-to-participate-in-every-thing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Olympics" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/when-i-was-skating-you-had-to-participate-in-every-thing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/eric-heiden-22924_olympics_when-i-was-skating-you-had-to-participat_142976.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/eric-heiden-22924_olympics_when-i-was-skating-you-had-to-participat_142976.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/eric-heiden-22924_olympics_when-i-was-skating-you-had-to-participat_142976.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I was skating you had to participate in every thing.” — Eric Heiden", "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": "Eric Heiden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I was skating you had...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/when-i-was-skating-you-had-to-participate-in-every-thing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/when-i-was-skating-you-had-to-participate-in-every-thing/#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 } } ] } ```