--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Opting for gold shoes could have been…" description: "\"Opting for gold shoes could have been considered downright cocky, but I was confident and never doubted my ability to deliver gold medals to match my s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/michael-johnson-15689_ability_opting-for-gold-shoes-could-have-been-co_1478269.jpg" --- # Opting for gold shoes could have been considered downright… ![“Opting for gold shoes could have been considered downright cocky, but I was confident and never doubted my ability to deliver gold medals to match my shimmering footwear.” quote by Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/michael-johnson-15689_ability_opting-for-gold-shoes-could-have-been-co_1478269.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/michael-johnson-15689_ability_opting-for-gold-shoes-could-have-been-co_1478269.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/michael-johnson-15689_ability_opting-for-gold-shoes-could-have-been-co_1478269.jpg) > “Opting for gold shoes could have been considered downright cocky, but I was confident and never doubted my ability to deliver gold medals to match my shimmering footwear.” [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. Confidence can turn bold choices into performance, turning self‑belief into measurable success. **In simple terms:** Confidence makes daring choices succeed. Key Takeaway Believe in your ability to achieve. Themes confidence performance self‑belief Mood determined optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - sports competition - public speaking - career advancement - personal branding Key Concepts psychology motivation goal setting Questions to Reflect On - Do you trust your instincts too much? - How can you balance confidence with humility? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can lead to reckless decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Confident](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confident/) [Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold/) [Gold medal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold-medal/) [Medals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medals/) [Olympics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympics/) ## Related quotes > [How could you look more stupid than to be the guy accepting a bronze medal in gold shoes?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/how-could-you-look-more-stupid-than-to-be-the-guy-accepting-a-bronze/) [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) > [The way I've talked about my research process is that it was like magpies. I was just sort of moving through all these books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-dutton/the-way-i-ve-talked-about-my-research-process-is-that-it-was-like/) [Danielle Dutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-dutton/) > [I'm not sure how to describe my style. A lot of my work is dark and looks a bit sad, which is strange because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-huey/i-m-not-sure-how-to-describe-my-style-a-lot-of-my-work-is-dark-and/) [Aaron Huey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-huey/) > [I'm getting tired of saying hello to Stan Smith and not getting any reply. I'm cocky and confident and maybe I'm too bullheaded sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-connors/i-m-getting-tired-of-saying-hello-to-stan-smith-and-not-getting-any/) [Jimmy Connors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-connors/) > [I'm not cocky, I'm confident. So when you tell me I'm the best it's a compliment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jadakiss/i-m-not-cocky-i-m-confident-so-when-you-tell-me-i-m-the-best-it-s-a/) [Jadakiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jadakiss/) > [I'm not cocky. But I'm very confident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-thomas/i-m-not-cocky-but-i-m-very-confident/) [Frank Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-thomas/) > [I might be confident in what I do, and sometimes you can be cocky and confident because you know what your abilities are and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-busch/i-might-be-confident-in-what-i-do-and-sometimes-you-can-be-cocky-and/) [Kyle Busch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-busch/) > [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/) > [“These aren’t my scars, cuts, and bruises. These are my medals of honor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-stevenson/these-aren-t-my-scars-cuts-and-bruises-these-are-my-medals-of-honor/) [Bryan Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-stevenson/) > [But probably this is helps to win, to win, to gold, more gold medals, and to win most my important medal, heart of people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olga-korbut/but-probably-this-is-helps-to-win-to-win-to-gold-more-gold-medals-and/) [Olga Korbut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olga-korbut/) > [I don't know what the point of life is, but I'm certain that five gold medals is not it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikaela-shiffrin/i-don-t-know-what-the-point-of-life-is-but-i-m-certain-that-five-gold/) [Mikaela Shiffrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikaela-shiffrin/) > [I have two hands. I can hold two medals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shani-davis/i-have-two-hands-i-can-hold-two-medals/) [Shani Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shani-davis/) > [You don't do a play to compete for an award. This was the argument I always had over the Oscars. I didn't win them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenda-jackson/you-don-t-do-a-play-to-compete-for-an-award-this-was-the-argument-i/) [Glenda Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenda-jackson/) > [The number of medals on an officer's breast varies in inverse proportion to the square of the distance of his duties from the front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edward-montague/the-number-of-medals-on-an-officer-s-breast-varies-in-inverse/) [Charles Edward Montague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edward-montague/) > [ The \[IBJJF\] medal has zero value. It means as much as this tablecloth right here, but people still kill themselves to try to get… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryron-gracie/the-ibjjf-medal-has-zero-value-it-means-as-much-as-this-tablecloth/) [Ryron Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryron-gracie/) ## 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 Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Opting for gold shoes could have been considered downright cocky, but I was confident and never doubted my ability to deliver gold medals to match my shimmering footwear.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/opting-for-gold-shoes-could-have-been-considered-downright-cocky-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/opting-for-gold-shoes-could-have-been-considered-downright-cocky-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/michael-johnson-15689_ability_opting-for-gold-shoes-could-have-been-co_1478269.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/michael-johnson-15689_ability_opting-for-gold-shoes-could-have-been-co_1478269.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/michael-johnson-15689_ability_opting-for-gold-shoes-could-have-been-co_1478269.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Opting for gold shoes could have been considered downright cocky, but I was confident and never doubted my…” — Michael Johnson", "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": "Michael Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Opting for gold shoes could have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/opting-for-gold-shoes-could-have-been-considered-downright-cocky-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/opting-for-gold-shoes-could-have-been-considered-downright-cocky-but/#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 } } ] } ```