--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the biggest thing to being an…" description: "\"I think the biggest thing to being an elite-level bobsledder is grit. You have to really want it. It's a very blue-collar sport. We do a lot of the wor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/396/lauren-gibbs-18854_grit_i-think-the-biggest-thing-to-being-an-el_684903.jpg" --- # I think the biggest thing to being an elite-level… ![“I think the biggest thing to being an elite-level bobsledder is grit. You have to really want it. It's a very blue-collar sport. We do a lot of the work ourselves; we sand the runners, we wash the sled, we help maintain the sled. Obviously, we have a sled mechanic that travels with us, but a lot…” quote by Lauren Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/396/lauren-gibbs-18854_grit_i-think-the-biggest-thing-to-being-an-el_684903.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/396/lauren-gibbs-18854_grit_i-think-the-biggest-thing-to-being-an-el_684903.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/396/lauren-gibbs-18854_grit_i-think-the-biggest-thing-to-being-an-el_684903.jpg) > “I think the biggest thing to being an elite-level bobsledder is grit. You have to really want it. It's a very blue-collar sport. We do a lot of the work ourselves; we sand the runners, we wash the sled, we help maintain the sled. Obviously, we have a sled mechanic that travels with us, but a lot of the work we do ourselves.” [Lauren Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-gibbs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success in elite bobsledding demands relentless determination and hands‑on effort, reflecting a blue‑collar work ethic despite high‑performance sport status. **In simple terms:** Grit and personal effort are essential for elite bobsledding. Key Takeaway Embrace hard work and personal responsibility. Themes grit work ethic teamwork self‑reliance Mood determined pragmatic inspirational Type motivational practical When to use this quote - training camps - sled maintenance - team building - personal fitness Key Concepts sports psychology manual labor elite performance Questions to Reflect On - How does personal involvement in equipment affect performance? - What sacrifices are needed to maintain a blue‑collar mindset in elite sport? A Different Perspective Limited resources may hinder access to professional mechanics for some athletes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Grit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grit/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Mechanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mechanic/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“Life is messy. Grit and grace come at us fast, side by side. Sometimes the grit becomes overwhelming and diminishes our spirit. What’s good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-e-rainey/life-is-messy-grit-and-grace-come-at-us-fast-side-by-side-sometimes/) [Sharon E. Rainey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-e-rainey/) > [True grit is making a decision and standing by it, doing what must be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wayne/true-grit-is-making-a-decision-and-standing-by-it-doing-what-must-be/) [John Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wayne/) > [It was 1988, I believe, that I met Grit. We were both appearing in a Canadian Folk Festival and as we sat backstage he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-chapin/it-was-1988-i-believe-that-i-met-grit-we-were-both-appearing-in-a/) [Tom Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-chapin/) > [I like grit, I like love and death, I'm tired of irony. ... A lot of good fiction is sentimental. ... The novelist who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harrison/i-like-grit-i-like-love-and-death-i-m-tired-of-irony-a-lot-of-good/) [Jim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harrison/) > [Will you keep going when you don't know why? When you can't get any answers that would make the pain go away, will you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/will-you-keep-going-when-you-don-t-know-why-when-you-can-t-get-any/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [“Before all the little mean things she told me gathered and gathered and lodged like grit in a skinned knee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/before-all-the-little-mean-things-she-told-me-gathered-and-gathered/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [I like the man who takes the stones Upon his rocky road With smiling lips instead of groans, Whate'er his heavy load Who seizes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kendrick-bangs/i-like-the-man-who-takes-the-stones-upon-his-rocky-road-with-smiling/) [John Kendrick Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kendrick-bangs/) > [“The grits were lumpy, but the flavor was incredible: the garlic and onion powder, the cayenne's heat lingering after every bite, the creamy tang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-robinson/the-grits-were-lumpy-but-the-flavor-was-incredible-the-garlic-and/) Shauna Robinson > [Grit can't be measured on pop quizzes, but it can often predict long-term success more than mere intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-moser/grit-can-t-be-measured-on-pop-quizzes-but-it-can-often-predict-long/) [Laura Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moser/) > [You know I'm from North Carolina, so I grew up eating grits, honey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabitha-brown/you-know-i-m-from-north-carolina-so-i-grew-up-eating-grits-honey/) [Tabitha Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabitha-brown/) > [Londoners are really good at dealing with any crap that's thrown at them. We hunker down, we grit our teeth and we get on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andi-oliver/londoners-are-really-good-at-dealing-with-any-crap-that-s-thrown-at/) [Andi Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andi-oliver/) > [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/) [Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [Develop The Grit To be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-brooks/develop-the-grit-to-be-great/) Barrett Brooks ## More by Lauren Gibbs > [I can't believe where life has taken me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-gibbs/i-can-t-believe-where-life-has-taken-me/) [Lauren Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-gibbs/) > [I'm a volleyball player, so I like Lycra and Spandex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-gibbs/i-m-a-volleyball-player-so-i-like-lycra-and-spandex/) [Lauren Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-gibbs/) > [One of the most common misconceptions about Olympic sports is that they only happen at the Olympics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-gibbs/one-of-the-most-common-misconceptions-about-olympic-sports-is-that/) [Lauren Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-gibbs/) > [I am used to being places where I don't speak the language. What I am not used to is being in a part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-gibbs/i-am-used-to-being-places-where-i-don-t-speak-the-language-what-i-am/) [Lauren Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-gibbs/) > [When you start your bobsled career at 30, a time when most are settling down into their 'real careers' and many are getting married,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-gibbs/when-you-start-your-bobsled-career-at-30-a-time-when-most-are/) [Lauren Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-gibbs/) > [When I graduated from college, I was told I could do great things and be great, but I didn't know what that meant and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-gibbs/when-i-graduated-from-college-i-was-told-i-could-do-great-things-and/) [Lauren Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-gibbs/) > [Bobsled is the first time I decided, win, lose, or draw, I was all-in for all four years. I figured if I was going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-gibbs/bobsled-is-the-first-time-i-decided-win-lose-or-draw-i-was-all-in-for/) [Lauren Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-gibbs/) > [I've always been a risk taker. When I told my mum I was quitting my job to be a bobsledder, she wasn't surprised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-gibbs/i-ve-always-been-a-risk-taker-when-i-told-my-mum-i-was-quitting-my/) [Lauren Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-gibbs/) > [If I look in the mirror, my body is absolutely perfect. I think not enough women feel that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-gibbs/if-i-look-in-the-mirror-my-body-is-absolutely-perfect-i-think-not/) [Lauren Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-gibbs/) > [It is funny, the things you miss about a more conventional lifestyle. I miss seemingly mundane tasks, like cleaning the kitchen, moving my furniture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-gibbs/it-is-funny-the-things-you-miss-about-a-more-conventional-lifestyle-i/) [Lauren Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-gibbs/) > [I travel quite a bit for both bobsled and leisure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-gibbs/i-travel-quite-a-bit-for-both-bobsled-and-leisure/) [Lauren Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-gibbs/) > [More and more, I am realizing that life is too short to do crap that doesn't make you happy, and we only get one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-gibbs/more-and-more-i-am-realizing-that-life-is-too-short-to-do-crap-that/) [Lauren Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-gibbs/) > [I grew up thinking that corporate America was my destination. Then I got there, and I was making the money I wanted to make,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-gibbs/i-grew-up-thinking-that-corporate-america-was-my-destination-then-i/) [Lauren Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-gibbs/) > [I love all food. All of it. I wish I could be a professional eater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-gibbs/i-love-all-food-all-of-it-i-wish-i-could-be-a-professional-eater/) [Lauren Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-gibbs/) > [I actually found CrossFit on a run from my house in Orange County. I moved around with it for a while, which is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-gibbs/i-actually-found-crossfit-on-a-run-from-my-house-in-orange-county-i/) [Lauren Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-gibbs/) [Explore all 34 Lauren Gibbs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-gibbs/) ## More Grit quotes > [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/) [Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/) > [Londoners are really good at dealing with any crap that's thrown at them. We hunker down, we grit our teeth and we get on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andi-oliver/londoners-are-really-good-at-dealing-with-any-crap-that-s-thrown-at/) [Andi Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andi-oliver/) > [You know I'm from North Carolina, so I grew up eating grits, honey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabitha-brown/you-know-i-m-from-north-carolina-so-i-grew-up-eating-grits-honey/) [Tabitha Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabitha-brown/) > [Grit can't be measured on pop quizzes, but it can often predict long-term success more than mere intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-moser/grit-can-t-be-measured-on-pop-quizzes-but-it-can-often-predict-long/) [Laura Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moser/) > [“The grits were lumpy, but the flavor was incredible: the garlic and onion powder, the cayenne's heat lingering after every bite, the creamy tang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-robinson/the-grits-were-lumpy-but-the-flavor-was-incredible-the-garlic-and/) Shauna Robinson > [I like the man who takes the stones Upon his rocky road With smiling lips instead of groans, Whate'er his heavy load Who seizes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kendrick-bangs/i-like-the-man-who-takes-the-stones-upon-his-rocky-road-with-smiling/) [John Kendrick Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kendrick-bangs/) > [“Before all the little mean things she told me gathered and gathered and lodged like grit in a skinned knee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/before-all-the-little-mean-things-she-told-me-gathered-and-gathered/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [Will you keep going when you don't know why? When you can't get any answers that would make the pain go away, will you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/will-you-keep-going-when-you-don-t-know-why-when-you-can-t-get-any/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [I like grit, I like love and death, I'm tired of irony. ... A lot of good fiction is sentimental. ... The novelist who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harrison/i-like-grit-i-like-love-and-death-i-m-tired-of-irony-a-lot-of-good/) [Jim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harrison/) > [It was 1988, I believe, that I met Grit. We were both appearing in a Canadian Folk Festival and as we sat backstage he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-chapin/it-was-1988-i-believe-that-i-met-grit-we-were-both-appearing-in-a/) [Tom Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-chapin/) > [True grit is making a decision and standing by it, doing what must be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wayne/true-grit-is-making-a-decision-and-standing-by-it-doing-what-must-be/) [John Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wayne/) > [“Life is messy. Grit and grace come at us fast, side by side. Sometimes the grit becomes overwhelming and diminishes our spirit. What’s good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-e-rainey/life-is-messy-grit-and-grace-come-at-us-fast-side-by-side-sometimes/) [Sharon E. Rainey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-e-rainey/) > [Develop The Grit To be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-brooks/develop-the-grit-to-be-great/) Barrett Brooks [Browse all 335 Grit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grit/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the biggest thing to being an elite-level bobsledder is grit. You have to really want it. It's a very blue-collar sport. We do a lot of the work ourselves; we sand the runners, we wash the sled, we help maintain the sled. 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