--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's kind of nice in some ways having an…" description: "\"It's kind of nice in some ways having an Olympic Trials where I finished second. You can kind of go in more under the radar facing a 2:03 guy and facin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/ryan-hall-17359_adversity_it-s-kind-of-nice-in-some-ways-having-an_1333022.jpg" --- # It's kind of nice in some ways having an Olympic Trials… ![“It's kind of nice in some ways having an Olympic Trials where I finished second. You can kind of go in more under the radar facing a 2:03 guy and facing a lot of dudes who are faster than I am, whereas, before Beijing, I had one of the top 10 times in the field, or something like that.” quote by Ryan Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/ryan-hall-17359_adversity_it-s-kind-of-nice-in-some-ways-having-an_1333022.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/ryan-hall-17359_adversity_it-s-kind-of-nice-in-some-ways-having-an_1333022.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/ryan-hall-17359_adversity_it-s-kind-of-nice-in-some-ways-having-an_1333022.jpg) > “It's kind of nice in some ways having an Olympic Trials where I finished second. You can kind of go in more under the radar facing a 2:03 guy and facing a lot of dudes who are faster than I am, whereas, before Beijing, I had one of the top 10 times in the field, or something like that.” [Ryan Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The athlete values finishing second at Olympic Trials, noting it allows a lower profile competition and personal growth. **In simple terms:** Finishing second offers a strategic, less pressured path. Key Takeaway Appreciate near‑top performance and learn from it. Themes sports competition humility growth strategy Mood determined reflective Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - training camps - track meets - personal goal review - career planning Key Concepts performance psychology goal setting resilience Questions to Reflect On - What does a near‑win teach you? - How can you leverage a second‑place finish? A Different Perspective Second place may limit sponsorship opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Olympics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympics/) [Radar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radar/) [Trials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials/) ## Related quotes > [A lot of skaters hole themselves up in hotels and focus - and that's great, and that may work for them. 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It's like a credential that sticks with you the rest of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/having-an-olympic-medal-validates-that-you-can-be-a-successful/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [I love having the Olympic Channel app on my phone because I can watch old gymnastics videos any time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/i-love-having-the-olympic-channel-app-on-my-phone-because-i-can-watch/) [Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/) > [Hagen said that no-one remembers who finished second. But they still ask me if I ever think about that putt I missed to win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-sanders/hagen-said-that-no-one-remembers-who-finished-second-but-they-still/) [Doug Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-sanders/) > [No one ever expect me to get in the race. They didn't think I would get on the debate stage. I did. They didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/no-one-ever-expect-me-to-get-in-the-race-they-didn-t-think-i-would/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [Nobody remembers the guy who finished second but the guy who finished second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-unser/nobody-remembers-the-guy-who-finished-second-but-the-guy-who-finished/) [Bobby Unser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-unser/) > [Nobody ever remembers who finished second at anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/nobody-ever-remembers-who-finished-second-at-anything/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [There is no room for second place. There is only one place in my game and that is first place. I have finished second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/there-is-no-room-for-second-place-there-is-only-one-place-in-my-game/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Nobody remembers who finished second but the guy who finished second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-unser/nobody-remembers-who-finished-second-but-the-guy-who-finished-second/) [Bobby Unser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-unser/) > [In my career, I finished in second place six times. I played on teams that were in it to the very end. It's frustrating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-martinez/in-my-career-i-finished-in-second-place-six-times-i-played-on-teams/) [Dave Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-martinez/) > [I have finished second twice in my time at Green Bay, and I don't ever want to finish second again. There is a second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/i-have-finished-second-twice-in-my-time-at-green-bay-and-i-don-t-ever/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [At the 2012 Olympic Trials, I wanted to make a second Olympic team. I fell face first, and in a blink of an eye,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nastia-liukin/at-the-2012-olympic-trials-i-wanted-to-make-a-second-olympic-team-i/) [Nastia Liukin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nastia-liukin/) > [So far the biggest accomplishment I give myself is getting the silver in the Olympic Trials. Even though it's kind of a defeat. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-thurman/so-far-the-biggest-accomplishment-i-give-myself-is-getting-the-silver/) [Keith Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-thurman/) > [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/) ## More by Ryan Hall > [I want to run every race with a big heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hall/i-want-to-run-every-race-with-a-big-heart/) [Ryan Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hall/) > [I've always said that racing in New York is performing on the big stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hall/i-ve-always-said-that-racing-in-new-york-is-performing-on-the-big/) [Ryan Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hall/) > [Being a sports-crazy kid I always looked up to sports figures. At first it was Ken Griffey Jr., then Michael Jordan, then once I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hall/being-a-sports-crazy-kid-i-always-looked-up-to-sports-figures-at/) [Ryan Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hall/) > [I'd want to have the power of mind control. If I had that one skill you'd always see at the bank loading up bags…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hall/i-d-want-to-have-the-power-of-mind-control-if-i-had-that-one-skill/) [Ryan Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hall/) > [I think the biggest thing was that I was putting pressure on myself leading up to Beijing. Now I am learning how to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hall/i-think-the-biggest-thing-was-that-i-was-putting-pressure-on-myself/) [Ryan Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hall/) > [I am thankful that there are different seasons in life and training. I have learned to embrace each season realizing how important it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hall/i-am-thankful-that-there-are-different-seasons-in-life-and-training-i/) [Ryan Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hall/) > [It is nice to know that you have other races lined up, because sometimes you can get so focused on your next marathon that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hall/it-is-nice-to-know-that-you-have-other-races-lined-up-because/) [Ryan Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hall/) > [Suffering is an extraordinary teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hall/suffering-is-an-extraordinary-teacher/) [Ryan Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hall/) > [The best way to become a mentally tough runner is to believe that you're a mentally tough runner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hall/the-best-way-to-become-a-mentally-tough-runner-is-to-believe-that-you/) [Ryan Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hall/) > [I don't really study the guys that I'm racing against.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hall/i-don-t-really-study-the-guys-that-i-m-racing-against/) [Ryan Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hall/) > [I have my own unique road that has had many exciting ups and heart-breaking downs, but one thing I know is that my journey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hall/i-have-my-own-unique-road-that-has-had-many-exciting-ups-and-heart/) [Ryan Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hall/) > [It took years, honestly, to deal with the disappointment of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hall/it-took-years-honestly-to-deal-with-the-disappointment-of-beijing/) [Ryan Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hall/) > [The big thing is hydrating the day before the race. I will have 20 ounces of water right when I get up in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hall/the-big-thing-is-hydrating-the-day-before-the-race-i-will-have-20/) [Ryan Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hall/) > [You dream about the Olympics for so long and you have that one day, then it's over, and when you don't run well there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hall/you-dream-about-the-olympics-for-so-long-and-you-have-that-one-day/) [Ryan Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hall/) > [I race kind of sparingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hall/i-race-kind-of-sparingly/) [Ryan Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hall/) [Explore all 37 Ryan Hall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hall/) ## More Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. 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Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) James Buckham Kennedy > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) S.E. SEVER > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's kind of nice in some ways having an Olympic Trials where I finished second. 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