--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People talk about retiring. I never said…" description: "\"People talk about retiring. I never said that r-word. People though I went away after the Olympic Games. I took time off to do something I've always wa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/gail-devers-18265_games_people-talk-about-retiring-i-never-said_1659007.jpg" --- # People talk about retiring. I never said that r-word… ![“People talk about retiring. I never said that r-word. People though I went away after the Olympic Games. I took time off to do something I've always wanted to be - a mother.” quote by Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/gail-devers-18265_games_people-talk-about-retiring-i-never-said_1659007.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/gail-devers-18265_games_people-talk-about-retiring-i-never-said_1659007.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/gail-devers-18265_games_people-talk-about-retiring-i-never-said_1659007.jpg) > “People talk about retiring. I never said that r-word. People though I went away after the Olympic Games. I took time off to do something I've always wanted to be - a mother.” [Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She clarifies that she chose motherhood, not retirement, after her Olympic career. **In simple terms:** She chose to be a mother, not retire. Key Takeaway Accept life changes as personal choices. Themes career family identity women sports Mood reflective determined Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - post‑Olympic life - parenting decisions - media interviews Key Concepts role transition public perception personal agency Questions to Reflect On - How do you define success after a sports career? - What pressures do athletes face when shifting to family life? A Different Perspective Public may misinterpret personal choices as career endings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Games Took](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games-took-738386/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Olympic games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympic-games/) [Olympics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympics/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-talk/) [Retiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retiring/) [Retiring Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retiring-said-738384/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-word-738385/) [Talk Retiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talk-retiring-738383/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) ## Related quotes > [I remember when I was retiring I said to my kids 'I promise you I'll never put on weight' because people always think footballers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-cole/i-remember-when-i-was-retiring-i-said-to-my-kids-i-promise-you-i-ll/) [Andy Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-cole/) > [You hear too many guys talk about retiring too soon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-harvick/you-hear-too-many-guys-talk-about-retiring-too-soon/) [Kevin Harvick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-harvick/) > [I liked friendly games, but I took them like a test to test new players. People didn't like that very much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sven-goran-eriksson/i-liked-friendly-games-but-i-took-them-like-a-test-to-test-new/) [Sven-Goran Eriksson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sven-goran-eriksson/) > [I had no experience with broadcasting basketball games, so I took a tape recorder and went to a playground where there was a summer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-bradley/i-had-no-experience-with-broadcasting-basketball-games-so-i-took-a/) [Ed Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-bradley/) > [I felt pain every night. After games, it took me a long time to walk to my car, and the driving home, it took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/i-felt-pain-every-night-after-games-it-took-me-a-long-time-to-walk-to/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [“I'm an extrovert, I'll talk to anyone and anything...that is what you said that word meant, right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sana-sahul-hameed/i-m-an-extrovert-i-ll-talk-to-anyone-and-anything-that-is-what-you/) [Sana Sahul Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sana-sahul-hameed/) > [“Thou comest! all is said without a word.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/thou-comest-all-is-said-without-a-word/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [“Wait,” he said. “That’s not a word.” I looked down to where, in a moment of desperation, I’d played zixic on a triple-word-score space.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/wait-he-said-that-s-not-a-word-i-looked-down-to-where-in-a-moment-of/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [He said I LOVE YOU I looked back and said that word doesnt exist to me sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mcdoodle/he-said-i-love-you-i-looked-back-and-said-that-word-doesnt-exist-to/) [Jessica Mcdoodle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mcdoodle/) > [I didnt say one word to him the whole night. No, I said three words: I love you. He only said one word: Goodbye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-didnt-say-one-word-to-him-the-whole-night-no-i-said-three-words-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why am I going?" he repeated, looking straight into her eyes. "You know that I am going in order to be where you are,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/why-am-i-going-he-repeated-looking-straight-into-her-eyes-you-know/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [He said, "The word for moonlight is moonlight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/he-said-the-word-for-moonlight-is-moonlight/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [Love a word that fills the stomch with butterflys when said. A word more missed used then truly what it was ment for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-white/love-a-word-that-fills-the-stomch-with-butterflys-when-said-a-word/) [Marcus White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-white/) > [“To be your companion." "Companion?" He said the word as if he were spitting a bad taste from his mouth. "I am a killer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jettie-necole/to-be-your-companion-companion-he-said-the-word-as-if-he-were/) [Jettie Necole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jettie-necole/) > [“I cursed. (S-word, f-word, s-word, d-word, s-word times three, f-word, and a z-word I made up on the spot.) I kicked a brick wall.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-strand/i-cursed-s-word-f-word-s-word-d-word-s-word-times-three-f-word-and-a/) [Jeff Strand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-strand/) ## More by Gail Devers > [While receiving radiation treatment for a thyroid illness, I had refused to take beta-blockers - a medication that would have eased its side effects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-devers/while-receiving-radiation-treatment-for-a-thyroid-illness-i-had/) [Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/) > [I am very thankful that I have lived the life I have lived. I am thankful for my Graves' disease, and I tell people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-devers/i-am-very-thankful-that-i-have-lived-the-life-i-have-lived-i-am/) [Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/) > [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/) > [You have to find that love within yourself. If you love yourself, you feel good about yourself, and sports help you feel good about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-devers/you-have-to-find-that-love-within-yourself-if-you-love-yourself-you/) [Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/) > [Sometimes we fall, sometimes we stumble, but we can't stay down. We can't allow life to beat us down. Everything happens for a reason,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-devers/sometimes-we-fall-sometimes-we-stumble-but-we-can-t-stay-down-we-can/) [Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/) > [My life is a blessing every day that I get up. God saved my feet. How am I not going to use them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-devers/my-life-is-a-blessing-every-day-that-i-get-up-god-saved-my-feet-how/) [Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/) > [Whenever faced with a challenge, I dig deep within myself and summon my spiritual and physical forces. This gives me the focus, determination, perseverance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-devers/whenever-faced-with-a-challenge-i-dig-deep-within-myself-and-summon/) [Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/) > [It's totally different now, traveling to different meets and different cities and actually being able to enjoy the cities I'm in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-devers/it-s-totally-different-now-traveling-to-different-meets-and-different/) [Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/) > [I have a real passion for children. I always wanted to teach and only became an athlete because my parents told my brother Parenthesis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-devers/i-have-a-real-passion-for-children-i-always-wanted-to-teach-and-only/) [Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/) > [I never read my press when I was competing. I never got caught up in what I was doing at that moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-devers/i-never-read-my-press-when-i-was-competing-i-never-got-caught-up-in/) [Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/) > [Looking back, I'm so proud to have gone to five Olympics - I believe only three other Americans have achieved that. My true gold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-devers/looking-back-i-m-so-proud-to-have-gone-to-five-olympics-i-believe/) [Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/) > [I didn't get nervous when I ran, but I get nervous watching other people now. I root for anybody with a USA on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-devers/i-didn-t-get-nervous-when-i-ran-but-i-get-nervous-watching-other/) [Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/) > [You can never give up or get down on yourself. A true champion keeps his or her chin up and always takes life one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-devers/you-can-never-give-up-or-get-down-on-yourself-a-true-champion-keeps/) [Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/) > [We go old-school during the summer, like swimming or setting up lemonade stands. I try to teach my kids to make their own fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-devers/we-go-old-school-during-the-summer-like-swimming-or-setting-up/) [Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/) > [I have to be cautious, have my thyroid levels checked, and as long as I do that, I'm fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-devers/i-have-to-be-cautious-have-my-thyroid-levels-checked-and-as-long-as-i/) [Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/) [Explore all 35 Gail Devers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/) ## More Games quotes > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I know that in the rap game you've got a lot of people, that come from poverty, was born in poverty and if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-connor/i-know-that-in-the-rap-game-you-ve-got-a-lot-of-people-that-come-from/) [Jon Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-connor/) > [And I have been very blessed, having coached some of the greatest that have ever played the game. But if I had to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/and-i-have-been-very-blessed-having-coached-some-of-the-greatest-that/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) > [I'd noticed him watching me for a year or so, especially when we'd play games where there was running or jumping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/i-d-noticed-him-watching-me-for-a-year-or-so-especially-when-we-d/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [You just can't let the outside world affect your game.You can't hold anything back. You can't play a different game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-palmer/you-just-can-t-let-the-outside-world-affect-your-game-you-can-t-hold/) [Carson Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-palmer/) > [Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. In other countries, people are still buying CDs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/look-at-music-for-what-it-s-worth-around-the-world-and-not-just/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [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/) > [Palindrome as well. My sister's name is Hannah. Father liked word games. He was fourteen times World Scrabble Champion. When he died, we buried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/palindrome-as-well-my-sister-s-name-is-hannah-father-liked-word-games/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [You got to harden yourself. Make, like, a shell around you. But not everyone can do it. If they got nothing to hang on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-higson/you-got-to-harden-yourself-make-like-a-shell-around-you-but-not/) [Charlie Higson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-higson/) > [Playing video games is something I enjoy in my spare time. I'm a gamer, always have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-garnett/playing-video-games-is-something-i-enjoy-in-my-spare-time-i-m-a-gamer/) [Kevin Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-garnett/) > [“Let the motherfucking games begin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-mchugh/let-the-motherfucking-games-begin/) [Gail McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-mchugh/) > [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/) > [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) [Browse all 11,463 Games quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People talk about retiring. I never said that r-word. People though I went away after the Olympic Games. 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