--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before me, sprinters retired at 23 or 24…" description: "\"Before me, sprinters retired at 23 or 24. I run because I still like it, I can make a living, and I feel I was born to do it. And because people tell m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1da/evelyn-ashford-31093_born_before-me-sprinters-retired-at-23-or-24_2585713.png" --- # Before me, sprinters retired at 23 or 24. I run because I… ![“Before me, sprinters retired at 23 or 24. I run because I still like it, I can make a living, and I feel I was born to do it. And because people tell me I can't do it.” quote by Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1da/evelyn-ashford-31093_born_before-me-sprinters-retired-at-23-or-24_2585713.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1da/evelyn-ashford-31093_born_before-me-sprinters-retired-at-23-or-24_2585713.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1da/evelyn-ashford-31093_born_before-me-sprinters-retired-at-23-or-24_2585713.png) > “Before me, sprinters retired at 23 or 24. I run because I still like it, I can make a living, and I feel I was born to do it. And because people tell me I can't do it.” [Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A sprinter continues competing past typical retirement age driven by passion, livelihood, and defying doubters. **In simple terms:** She runs because she loves it, earns a living, and wants to prove others wrong. Key Takeaway Persist despite age and criticism. Themes determination career longevity defying expectations passion financial independence Mood focused resilient defiant Type personal motivational When to use this quote - professional sprinting - career transition - public perception - media interviews Key Concepts athletic identity motivation age norms Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to keep going beyond typical retirement? - How do you handle external doubts? A Different Perspective Age can limit performance and sponsorship opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Retired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retired/) [Retired 23](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retired-23-1816928/) [Run Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/run-like-545631/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Sprinters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sprinters/) [Sprinters Retired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sprinters-retired-1816927/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Tell me i can t](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-me-i-can-t/) ## Related quotes > [I worked hard in gymnastics since the time I was six years old until I retired at 23 years of age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-comaneci/i-worked-hard-in-gymnastics-since-the-time-i-was-six-years-old-until/) [Nadia Comaneci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-comaneci/) > [You learn to run like a sprinter, you'll be a great distance runner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-salazar/you-learn-to-run-like-a-sprinter-you-ll-be-a-great-distance-runner/) [Alberto Salazar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-salazar/) > [You want me to do something... tell me I can't do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-want-me-to-do-something-tell-me-i-can-t-do-it/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Tell me I can't so I can show you I CAN!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ledisi/tell-me-i-can-t-so-i-can-show-you-i-can/) [Ledisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ledisi/) > [If you tell me I can't have something then that just makes me want it more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-benson/if-you-tell-me-i-can-t-have-something-then-that-just-makes-me-want-it/) [Anna Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-benson/) > [I am the greatest. 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"No." Then don't tell me I can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-marr/have-you-ever-tried-no-then-don-t-tell-me-i-can-t/) [Melissa Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-marr/) > [I'm the mayor, I can do whatever I want until the courts tell me I can't.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/i-m-the-mayor-i-can-do-whatever-i-want-until-the-courts-tell-me-i-can/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) > [I'm tenacious, I think - I know - and I do also have a quality where if you tell me I can't do something,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-barkin/i-m-tenacious-i-think-i-know-and-i-do-also-have-a-quality-where-if/) [Ellen Barkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-barkin/) > [Once people tell me I can't do stuff, I'm going to go and make it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-pain/once-people-tell-me-i-can-t-do-stuff-i-m-going-to-go-and-make-it/) [T-Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-pain/) > [People ask me why I work so hard and why I have this compassion to reach the top and be great. I respond by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/people-ask-me-why-i-work-so-hard-and-why-i-have-this-compassion-to/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [If you tell me I can't understand you because of my color or you can't understand me because of your sexual orientation or she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/if-you-tell-me-i-can-t-understand-you-because-of-my-color-or-you-can/) [Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/) > [As soon as someone I don’t respect tells me I can’t do something, it just makes me want to do it even more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-branagh/as-soon-as-someone-i-don-t-respect-tells-me-i-can-t-do-something-it/) [Kenneth Branagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-branagh/) ## More by Evelyn Ashford > [I was single-minded and I had tunnel vision. Now it's time for a change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/i-was-single-minded-and-i-had-tunnel-vision-now-it-s-time-for-a-change/) [Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) > [The fastest way to get me to go out and do something is to tell me no way I can do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/the-fastest-way-to-get-me-to-go-out-and-do-something-is-to-tell-me-no/) [Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) > [I want to combine a business major with studies in clothing and textiles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/i-want-to-combine-a-business-major-with-studies-in-clothing-and/) [Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) > [I can't run forever. 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Or they answer very quickly and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/now-i-talk-to-athletes-who-answer-questions-with-a-yeah-i-realize-i/) [Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) > [Whatever muscles I have are the product of my own hard work and nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/whatever-muscles-i-have-are-the-product-of-my-own-hard-work-and/) [Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) > [When I'm running fast, I don't feel anything, it's effortless, it's like my feet don't even touch the ground, it's like I'm flying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/when-i-m-running-fast-i-don-t-feel-anything-it-s-effortless-it-s-like/) [Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) > [I've noticed that since I've been pregnant I see babies everywhere. I love talking to them. 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