--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I set my sights on making an Olympic…" description: "\"I set my sights on making an Olympic team, not realizing how tough it was going to be.\" — Jackie Joyner-Kersee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/jackie-joyner-kersee-10215_olympic_i-set-my-sights-on-making-an-olympic-tea_2766560.png" --- # I set my sights on making an Olympic team, not realizing… ![“I set my sights on making an Olympic team, not realizing how tough it was going to be.” quote by Jackie Joyner-Kersee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/jackie-joyner-kersee-10215_olympic_i-set-my-sights-on-making-an-olympic-tea_2766560.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/jackie-joyner-kersee-10215_olympic_i-set-my-sights-on-making-an-olympic-tea_2766560.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/jackie-joyner-kersee-10215_olympic_i-set-my-sights-on-making-an-olympic-tea_2766560.png) > “I set my sights on making an Olympic team, not realizing how tough it was going to be.” [Jackie Joyner-Kersee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Setting an Olympic goal reveals the unexpected difficulty of the journey, highlighting the gap between aspiration and reality. **In simple terms:** Olympic dreams are harder than expected. Key Takeaway Prepare for challenges when pursuing elite goals. Themes athletic ambition goal setting perseverance realism training intensity Mood determined inspired Type sports motivational When to use this quote - Olympic trials - career planning - personal development Key Concepts sports psychology high performance motivation Questions to Reflect On - What obstacles did you encounter? - How can athletes manage expectations? A Different Perspective May ignore privilege factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Olympic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympic/) [Olympics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympics/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) ## Related quotes > [Making the Olympic team was the biggest thing I've ever accomplished. That was something I had to wait four years to accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-bowie/making-the-olympic-team-was-the-biggest-thing-i-ve-ever-accomplished/) [Tori Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-bowie/) > [There are no words to describe what it would mean making the Olympic team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/there-are-no-words-to-describe-what-it-would-mean-making-the-olympic/) [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) > [Being 19 years old and making the Olympic team on my last lift. I went 6-for-6 and had a perfect Olympic trial. Making the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-henry/being-19-years-old-and-making-the-olympic-team-on-my-last-lift-i-went/) [Mark Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-henry/) > [So far, my goals stops at making an Olympic team, and then if that happens, then I'll jot down more goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-biles/so-far-my-goals-stops-at-making-an-olympic-team-and-then-if-that/) [Simone Biles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-biles/) > [Ever since I started skating, making the Olympic team was my ultimate dream. It's what has inspired and motivated me throughout my entire career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-chen/ever-since-i-started-skating-making-the-olympic-team-was-my-ultimate/) [Nathan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-chen/) > [In Jamaica High School in New York, my coach was Larry Ellis, and he said I could probably make the Olympic team. He gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-beamon/in-jamaica-high-school-in-new-york-my-coach-was-larry-ellis-and-he/) [Bob Beamon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-beamon/) > [The women of the Senate are like the U.S. Olympic team: we come in different sizes, but we sure are united in our determination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mikulski/the-women-of-the-senate-are-like-the-u-s-olympic-team-we-come-in/) [Barbara Mikulski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mikulski/) > [ I have no regrets coming back for a second Olympic team \[in 2016\]. It's been an amazing experience. It's been teaching me a lot. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabby-douglas/i-have-no-regrets-coming-back-for-a-second-olympic-team-in-2016-it-s/) [Gabby Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabby-douglas/) > [To have full and multiple criteria is the best way to decide who is best prepared to be on that Olympic team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-wagner/to-have-full-and-multiple-criteria-is-the-best-way-to-decide-who-is/) [Ashley Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-wagner/) > [I was fortunate enough to coach the US Olympic team in Australia. The parks were full at all times. How can they take away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lasorda/i-was-fortunate-enough-to-coach-the-us-olympic-team-in-australia-the/) [Tommy Lasorda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lasorda/) > [I missed the Olympic team in 1996 - missed making the team. I tried to make a comeback in my sport, and soon after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-sanders/i-missed-the-olympic-team-in-1996-missed-making-the-team-i-tried-to/) [Summer Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-sanders/) > [To be able to make the Olympic team was a surreal feeling, knowing where I started.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerami-grant/to-be-able-to-make-the-olympic-team-was-a-surreal-feeling-knowing/) [Jerami Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerami-grant/) > [I've been with Team Canada for a lot of World Cups and World Championships, and to be part of an Olympic team would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thornton/i-ve-been-with-team-canada-for-a-lot-of-world-cups-and-world/) [Joe Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thornton/) > [I always thought, it would be neat to make the Olympic team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-always-thought-it-would-be-neat-to-make-the-olympic-team/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [When I took the job as the manager of the Olympic team, I didn't take it because I was a Dodger. I did it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lasorda/when-i-took-the-job-as-the-manager-of-the-olympic-team-i-didn-t-take/) [Tommy Lasorda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lasorda/) ## More by Jackie Joyner-Kersee > [If I stop to kick every barking dog I am not going to get where I'm going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/if-i-stop-to-kick-every-barking-dog-i-am-not-going-to-get-where-i-m/) [Jackie Joyner-Kersee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/) > [Once I leave this earth, I know I've done something that will continue to help others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/once-i-leave-this-earth-i-know-i-ve-done-something-that-will-continue/) [Jackie Joyner-Kersee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/) > [Getting started as a volunteer anywhere can be a challenge to a lot of people. The biggest hurdle is that people think they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/getting-started-as-a-volunteer-anywhere-can-be-a-challenge-to-a-lot/) [Jackie Joyner-Kersee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/) > [The rewards are going to come, but my happiness is just loving the sport and having fun performing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/the-rewards-are-going-to-come-but-my-happiness-is-just-loving-the/) [Jackie Joyner-Kersee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/) > [There is something about seeing myself improve that motivates and excites me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/there-is-something-about-seeing-myself-improve-that-motivates-and/) [Jackie Joyner-Kersee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/) > [I've had asthma my entire life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/i-ve-had-asthma-my-entire-life/) [Jackie Joyner-Kersee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/) > [Teaching kids about health and fitness is important to me. It's about being fit for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/teaching-kids-about-health-and-fitness-is-important-to-me-it-s-about/) [Jackie Joyner-Kersee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/) > [Even at 10 or 12, I was a hot, fast little cheerleader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/even-at-10-or-12-i-was-a-hot-fast-little-cheerleader/) [Jackie Joyner-Kersee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/) > [Your environment doesn't define you. I don't have a lot of money, but I can help train people and I can talk to people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/your-environment-doesn-t-define-you-i-don-t-have-a-lot-of-money-but-i/) [Jackie Joyner-Kersee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/) > [All I ever wanted really, and continue to want out of life, is to give 100 percent to whatever I'm doing and to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/all-i-ever-wanted-really-and-continue-to-want-out-of-life-is-to-give/) [Jackie Joyner-Kersee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/) > [Girls playing sports is not about winning gold medals. It's about self-esteem, learning to compete and learning how hard you have to work in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/girls-playing-sports-is-not-about-winning-gold-medals-it-s-about-self/) [Jackie Joyner-Kersee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/) > [Give back in some way. Always be thoughtful of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/give-back-in-some-way-always-be-thoughtful-of-others/) [Jackie Joyner-Kersee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/) > [We live in a world where sports have the potential to bridge the gap between racism, sexism and discrimination. The 2012 Olympic Games was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/we-live-in-a-world-where-sports-have-the-potential-to-bridge-the-gap/) [Jackie Joyner-Kersee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/) > [When I started competing, you had to have your coach there. Now you can be coached from a home office via Skype or video.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/when-i-started-competing-you-had-to-have-your-coach-there-now-you-can/) [Jackie Joyner-Kersee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/) > [The London games mark the 24th anniversary of my winning two golds and setting the world record in the heptathlon. Someone is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/the-london-games-mark-the-24th-anniversary-of-my-winning-two-golds/) [Jackie Joyner-Kersee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/) [Explore all 67 Jackie Joyner-Kersee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/) ## More Olympic quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [Most people should be given a chance to compete in the Olympic Games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-the-eagle/most-people-should-be-given-a-chance-to-compete-in-the-olympic-games/) [Eddie the Eagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-the-eagle/) > [Career-wise, I was not the most naturally talented ice skater. Of course I had a knack for it , but practice was always the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-lipinski/career-wise-i-was-not-the-most-naturally-talented-ice-skater-of/) [Tara Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-lipinski/) > [There was a time where I was on top of the world, an Olympic hopeful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katelyn-ohashi/there-was-a-time-where-i-was-on-top-of-the-world-an-olympic-hopeful/) [Katelyn Ohashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katelyn-ohashi/) > [I mean, does anyone seriously think there are no drugs in Olympic sports just because they do some kind of testing? They are highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/i-mean-does-anyone-seriously-think-there-are-no-drugs-in-olympic/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/the-most-important-thing-in-the-olympic-games-is-not-winning-but/) [Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) > [Don't ever in your life do a World Cup and the Olympic Games at the same time. This will make your life almost impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-paes/don-t-ever-in-your-life-do-a-world-cup-and-the-olympic-games-at-the/) [Eduardo Paes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-paes/) > [If I would have won that Olympic gold medal, I would have gotten a job somewhere coaching at a university, and I would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-cormier/if-i-would-have-won-that-olympic-gold-medal-i-would-have-gotten-a-job/) [Daniel Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-cormier/) > [I wanted to be the best street fighter in Houston, Texas. And I thought if I got a trophy or two, I'd go back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/i-wanted-to-be-the-best-street-fighter-in-houston-texas-and-i-thought/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [If I were to compare the Olympic decathlon to fatherhood, I would say fatherhood is a lot tougher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlyn-jenner/if-i-were-to-compare-the-olympic-decathlon-to-fatherhood-i-would-say/) [Caitlyn Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlyn-jenner/) > [“If you want to be the best, you have to do things that other people are unwilling to do. —Michael Phelps, winner of 17…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-minervini/if-you-want-to-be-the-best-you-have-to-do-things-that-other-people/) Mark Minervini > [I love wushu a lot and I would love to see it included in future Olympic Games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/i-love-wushu-a-lot-and-i-would-love-to-see-it-included-in-future/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [People are saying I hold and spoil, but you don't get to win Olympic gold without a bit of power and ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/people-are-saying-i-hold-and-spoil-but-you-don-t-get-to-win-olympic/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [The opportunity to represent my country at the Olympic Games is one of the greatest honors I've experienced in my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demarcus-cousins/the-opportunity-to-represent-my-country-at-the-olympic-games-is-one/) [DeMarcus Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demarcus-cousins/) [Browse all 541 Olympic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I set my sights on making an Olympic team, not realizing how tough it was going to be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jackie Joyner-Kersee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/i-set-my-sights-on-making-an-olympic-team-not-realizing-how-tough-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Olympic" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/i-set-my-sights-on-making-an-olympic-team-not-realizing-how-tough-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/jackie-joyner-kersee-10215_olympic_i-set-my-sights-on-making-an-olympic-tea_2766560.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/jackie-joyner-kersee-10215_olympic_i-set-my-sights-on-making-an-olympic-tea_2766560.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/jackie-joyner-kersee-10215_olympic_i-set-my-sights-on-making-an-olympic-tea_2766560.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I set my sights on making an Olympic team, not realizing how tough it was going to be.” — Jackie Joyner-Kersee", "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": "Jackie Joyner-Kersee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I set my sights on making...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/i-set-my-sights-on-making-an-olympic-team-not-realizing-how-tough-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/i-set-my-sights-on-making-an-olympic-team-not-realizing-how-tough-it/#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 } } ] } ```