--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tonight was not about winning, it was…" description: "\"Tonight was not about winning, it was about focusing on myself and what I was aiming to do. It's the reason why I was able to swim so well\" — Libby Tri..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/488/libby-trickett-31003_able_tonight-was-not-about-winning-it-was-abo_2184103.png" --- # Tonight was not about winning, it was about focusing on… ![“Tonight was not about winning, it was about focusing on myself and what I was aiming to do. It's the reason why I was able to swim so well” quote by Libby Trickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/488/libby-trickett-31003_able_tonight-was-not-about-winning-it-was-abo_2184103.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/488/libby-trickett-31003_able_tonight-was-not-about-winning-it-was-abo_2184103.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/488/libby-trickett-31003_able_tonight-was-not-about-winning-it-was-abo_2184103.png) > “Tonight was not about winning, it was about focusing on myself and what I was aiming to do. It's the reason why I was able to swim so well” [Libby Trickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libby-trickett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She emphasizes personal focus over competition, crediting it for her swimming success. **In simple terms:** Focus on self-improvement leads to better performance. Key Takeaway Center on personal goals, not external outcomes. Themes self-improvement athletics mindset Mood motivational reflective Type advisory inspirational When to use this quote - training - competition - coaching - personal development Key Concepts goal setting mental focus performance psychology Questions to Reflect On - What personal goals drive your daily actions? - How does self-focus impact team dynamics? A Different Perspective External pressure can still affect performance despite internal focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Motivational sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational-sports/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [Focusing on myself and my goals from now on. Making others happy doesn't get me anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/focusing-on-myself-and-my-goals-from-now-on-making-others-happy-doesn/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was still very invested in the team, very invested in how we were doing. I realized I needed to take a step back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pronger/i-was-still-very-invested-in-the-team-very-invested-in-how-we-were/) [Chris Pronger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pronger/) > [I've just always had a boyfriend my whole life, and I've - now I'm really focusing on myself and I think that's more important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paris-hilton/i-ve-just-always-had-a-boyfriend-my-whole-life-and-i-ve-now-i-m/) [Paris Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paris-hilton/) > [You have to be able to swim in backlash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/you-have-to-be-able-to-swim-in-backlash/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [“The swim requirements were even harder. We had to be able to swim a mile and tread water for fifteen minutes, in full flight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kelly/the-swim-requirements-were-even-harder-we-had-to-be-able-to-swim-a/) [Scott Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kelly/) > [Sometimes constraints actually create success. Not being able to swim made me run. And running taught me the discipline I needed as a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/sometimes-constraints-actually-create-success-not-being-able-to-swim/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [Believe it or not, the Navy requires plebes to actually be able to swim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/believe-it-or-not-the-navy-requires-plebes-to-actually-be-able-to-swim/) [David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/) > [I love the feeling of the weightlessness. I always love being in the water and to combine jumping off the side into the water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-daley/i-love-the-feeling-of-the-weightlessness-i-always-love-being-in-the/) [Tom Daley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-daley/) > [With standup, I was thrown into the deep end at a very early age, without being able to swim. Acting was the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/with-standup-i-was-thrown-into-the-deep-end-at-a-very-early-age/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [Everyone who has been to an Olympics says expect the unexpected. That kind of psychology games does go on, so I'm kind of expecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libby-trickett/everyone-who-has-been-to-an-olympics-says-expect-the-unexpected-that/) [Libby Trickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libby-trickett/) > [I know I've made huge gains in my confidence, and knowing more about my racing and myself as a person. That has made me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libby-trickett/i-know-i-ve-made-huge-gains-in-my-confidence-and-knowing-more-about/) [Libby Trickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libby-trickett/) > [Some guys need to see things on a grease board, ... I like when you can see it in your mind. And that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-manning/some-guys-need-to-see-things-on-a-grease-board-i-like-when-you-can/) [Peyton Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-manning/) > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [Motor racing's less of a sport these days than a commercial break doing 150 mph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dunne/motor-racing-s-less-of-a-sport-these-days-than-a-commercial-break/) Peter Dunne > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) Brendan Mundorf ## More by Libby Trickett > [It's so rewarding the journey that I've been on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libby-trickett/it-s-so-rewarding-the-journey-that-i-ve-been-on/) [Libby Trickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libby-trickett/) > [Everyone who has been to an Olympics says expect the unexpected. That kind of psychology games does go on, so I'm kind of expecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libby-trickett/everyone-who-has-been-to-an-olympics-says-expect-the-unexpected-that/) [Libby Trickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libby-trickett/) > [I'm a different athlete, I'm a different person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libby-trickett/i-m-a-different-athlete-i-m-a-different-person/) [Libby Trickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libby-trickett/) > [I've probably given myself enough time to prepare for this meet and we're all different athletes so I can't take their results as what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libby-trickett/i-ve-probably-given-myself-enough-time-to-prepare-for-this-meet-and/) [Libby Trickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libby-trickett/) > [It is completely surreal because two years ago I wasn't swimming, I was 10 kilos heavier and was on a completely different path in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libby-trickett/it-is-completely-surreal-because-two-years-ago-i-wasn-t-swimming-i/) [Libby Trickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libby-trickett/) > [I went through so many things personally, emotionally and mentally during that time off that I know that I'm better for it now and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libby-trickett/i-went-through-so-many-things-personally-emotionally-and-mentally/) [Libby Trickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libby-trickett/) > [That's pretty rewarding in itself coming from where I started. Obviously the next goal for me is to make the Olympic team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libby-trickett/that-s-pretty-rewarding-in-itself-coming-from-where-i-started/) [Libby Trickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libby-trickett/) > [I feel good. I'm up there. I got third in the 100 'fly, I've qualified in the top eight already for the 100 freestyle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libby-trickett/i-feel-good-i-m-up-there-i-got-third-in-the-100-fly-i-ve-qualified-in/) [Libby Trickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libby-trickett/) > [I know I've made huge gains in my confidence, and knowing more about my racing and myself as a person. That has made me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libby-trickett/i-know-i-ve-made-huge-gains-in-my-confidence-and-knowing-more-about/) [Libby Trickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libby-trickett/) > [I could see myself still swimming because I'm really enjoying the sport. But at the same time I have this biological clock that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libby-trickett/i-could-see-myself-still-swimming-because-i-m-really-enjoying-the/) [Libby Trickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libby-trickett/) > [It's the best fifth place I've ever had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libby-trickett/it-s-the-best-fifth-place-i-ve-ever-had/) [Libby Trickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libby-trickett/) > [I really would like to start a family as well. Whether I can balance the two or have to decide one or the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libby-trickett/i-really-would-like-to-start-a-family-as-well-whether-i-can-balance/) [Libby Trickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libby-trickett/) > [I'm pretty confident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libby-trickett/i-m-pretty-confident/) [Libby Trickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libby-trickett/) > [The fact that I am as lean as I was in 2008, I'm stronger than I was in 2008 I think I have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libby-trickett/the-fact-that-i-am-as-lean-as-i-was-in-2008-i-m-stronger-than-i-was/) [Libby Trickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libby-trickett/) > [I can't believe it. I'm speechless. It is amazing to see where I've come from the last two years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libby-trickett/i-can-t-believe-it-i-m-speechless-it-is-amazing-to-see-where-i-ve/) [Libby Trickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libby-trickett/) [Explore all 17 Libby Trickett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libby-trickett/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. 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