--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had already been into my professional…" description: "\"I had already been into my professional career for six years and had not won an individual gold medal at the Olympics. There was a tremendous amount of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/michael-johnson-15689_amount_i-had-already-been-into-my-professional_3219564.jpg" --- # I had already been into my professional career for six… ![“I had already been into my professional career for six years and had not won an individual gold medal at the Olympics. There was a tremendous amount of pressure going into 1996 to get it done.” quote by Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/michael-johnson-15689_amount_i-had-already-been-into-my-professional_3219564.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/michael-johnson-15689_amount_i-had-already-been-into-my-professional_3219564.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/michael-johnson-15689_amount_i-had-already-been-into-my-professional_3219564.jpg) > “I had already been into my professional career for six years and had not won an individual gold medal at the Olympics. There was a tremendous amount of pressure going into 1996 to get it done.” [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He felt intense pressure after years of effort without the ultimate individual Olympic gold, highlighting the weight of expectations. **In simple terms:** Pressure after years without top success. Key Takeaway Embrace pressure as motivation, not dread. Themes sports achievement pressure career expectations Mood determined anxious Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - training preparation - goal setting - mental resilience Key Concepts Olympic competition personal ambition public scrutiny Questions to Reflect On - How do you turn external expectations into personal drive? - What strategies keep focus amid high stakes? A Different Perspective Pressure can hinder performance if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amount](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amount/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold/) [Gold medal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold-medal/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individual Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-gold-839366/) [Medal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medal/) [Medal Olympics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medal-olympics-1635648/) [Olympics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympics/) [Olympics Tremendous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympics-tremendous-6047484/) [Pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure/) [Professional career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional-career/) [Six](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/six/) [Won Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/won-individual-6047483/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [Words can't even describe how much Olympic medals means to me, because of all the hard work, sacrifice and effort I put in at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabby-douglas/words-can-t-even-describe-how-much-olympic-medals-means-to-me-because/) [Gabby Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabby-douglas/) > [The Manchester games in 2002 was the breakthrough for me because I won my first individual Gold medal and that gave me the confidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hoy/the-manchester-games-in-2002-was-the-breakthrough-for-me-because-i/) [Chris Hoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hoy/) > [I am going to keep pushing myself and I would love to get an individual gold medal. That would be amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/i-am-going-to-keep-pushing-myself-and-i-would-love-to-get-an/) [Emma McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/) > [Up until Beijing where I had my greatest victory, I had trained for 16 years of life with a singular goal and singular obsession…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhinav-bindra/up-until-beijing-where-i-had-my-greatest-victory-i-had-trained-for-16/) [Abhinav Bindra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhinav-bindra/) > [I had a gold medal in olympics at 12. At 14 or 15 I had my career set before me. Because I started so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judit-polgar/i-had-a-gold-medal-in-olympics-at-12-at-14-or-15-i-had-my-career-set/) [Judit Polgar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judit-polgar/) > [Through everything I've gone through- and I've been everywhere, at the top of the world, in jail, hung over drunk - I never gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-o-brien/through-everything-i-ve-gone-through-and-i-ve-been-everywhere-at-the/) [Dan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-o-brien/) > [Winning that gold medal at the Olympics is something I'll never forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarome-iginla/winning-that-gold-medal-at-the-olympics-is-something-i-ll-never-forget/) [Jarome Iginla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarome-iginla/) > [I never have prayed to win a gold medal at Olympics and never will. The Lord is my Shepard and I shall not want.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lolo-jones/i-never-have-prayed-to-win-a-gold-medal-at-olympics-and-never-will/) [Lolo Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lolo-jones/) > [A gold medal at the Olympics is hard to top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-miller/a-gold-medal-at-the-olympics-is-hard-to-top/) [Reggie Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-miller/) > [When I win a gold medal in the Olympics... I would say every pain, tears and screams in training will be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hidilyn-diaz/when-i-win-a-gold-medal-in-the-olympics-i-would-say-every-pain-tears/) [Hidilyn Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hidilyn-diaz/) > [I want to win a world championship and a gold medal in the Olympics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cael-sanderson/i-want-to-win-a-world-championship-and-a-gold-medal-in-the-olympics/) [Cael Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cael-sanderson/) > [To go and win a gold medal in the Olympics, not too many people get a chance to do that and it is such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-backlund/to-go-and-win-a-gold-medal-in-the-olympics-not-too-many-people-get-a/) [Bob Backlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-backlund/) > [Winning the World Cup is definitely the highlight of my career. I thought the gold medal at the Olympics would peak it, but winning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-sauerbrunn/winning-the-world-cup-is-definitely-the-highlight-of-my-career-i/) [Becky Sauerbrunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-sauerbrunn/) > [Getting relay medals is just as amazing I feel just as proud to be a part of that as well. But it's a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/getting-relay-medals-is-just-as-amazing-i-feel-just-as-proud-to-be-a/) [Emma McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/) > [Your goal is to win a medal at the Olympics. The players who go into their second Olympics like me, know the agony of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-r-sreejesh/your-goal-is-to-win-a-medal-at-the-olympics-the-players-who-go-into/) [P. R. Sreejesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-r-sreejesh/) ## More by Michael Johnson > [I've had to learn that not everybody does things my way. But I do expect the absolute best of everyone around me, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/i-ve-had-to-learn-that-not-everybody-does-things-my-way-but-i-do/) [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) > [Don't shoot for something unattainable - completely outside of your nature or opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/don-t-shoot-for-something-unattainable-completely-outside-of-your/) [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) > [(Natural Talent + Opportunity) Hard Work = Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/natural-talent-opportunity-hard-work-success/) [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) > [There's a complete difference between training for a specific event and goal and just training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/there-s-a-complete-difference-between-training-for-a-specific-event/) [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) > [You learn as much from those who have failed as from those who have succeeded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/you-learn-as-much-from-those-who-have-failed-as-from-those-who-have/) [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) > [The only thing you can never change is your values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/the-only-thing-you-can-never-change-is-your-values/) [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) > [The only way to deal with loss - as a horribly unwelcome guest that you know will show up eventually. And so you deny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/the-only-way-to-deal-with-loss-as-a-horribly-unwelcome-guest-that-you/) [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) > [On the £20,000 Mercedes prizes for each winner at the World Athletics Championships in Stuttgart- Anyone good enough to win already has one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/on-the-20-000-mercedes-prizes-for-each-winner-at-the-world-athletics/) [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) > [As strong as my legs are, it is my mind that has made me a champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/as-strong-as-my-legs-are-it-is-my-mind-that-has-made-me-a-champion/) [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) > [They don't give you gold medals for beating somebody. They give you gold medals for beating everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/they-don-t-give-you-gold-medals-for-beating-somebody-they-give-you/) [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) > [I always wanted to be a sprinter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-sprinter/) [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) > [Difficult as it was to hear, slavery has benefited descendants like me - I believe there is a superior athletic gene in us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/difficult-as-it-was-to-hear-slavery-has-benefited-descendants-like-me/) [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) > [I don't always do a lot of predicting, but, when I get a really strong feeling about something, I will tell people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/i-don-t-always-do-a-lot-of-predicting-but-when-i-get-a-really-strong/) [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) > [I work hard to improve myself as a person - as a father, as a husband, as a manager. I'm always on that mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/i-work-hard-to-improve-myself-as-a-person-as-a-father-as-a-husband-as/) [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) > [The basis of self-discipline: Don't allow the edges to blur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/the-basis-of-self-discipline-don-t-allow-the-edges-to-blur/) [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) [Explore all 42 Michael Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) ## More Amount quotes > [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [When the amount of change externally exceeds the amount of change internally, the end is in sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/when-the-amount-of-change-externally-exceeds-the-amount-of-change/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [It's a challenge to work a character's arc into a format in which you only have a very limited amount of time to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginnifer-goodwin/it-s-a-challenge-to-work-a-character-s-arc-into-a-format-in-which-you/) [Ginnifer Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginnifer-goodwin/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [The amount you give isn't important. What matters is what that amount represents in terms of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-amount-you-give-isn-t-important-what-matters-is-what-that-amount/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/) [Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/) > [How could you justify giving Holland twice the amount of money that you gave Belgium? Well, finally, I put it up to them. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-averell-harriman/how-could-you-justify-giving-holland-twice-the-amount-of-money-that/) [W. Averell Harriman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-averell-harriman/) > [I am not a great believer in dialectical struggle. I am much more of a fusion person. I see it as a dialogue, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-warner/i-am-not-a-great-believer-in-dialectical-struggle-i-am-much-more-of-a/) [Marina Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-warner/) > [The risk of developing carcinoma of the lung increases steadily as the amount smoked increases. If the risk among non-smokers is taken as unity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-doll/the-risk-of-developing-carcinoma-of-the-lung-increases-steadily-as/) [Richard Doll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-doll/) > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) [F. A. 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