--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So as an amateur Olympic competitor I…" description: "\"So as an amateur Olympic competitor I loved criticism, because it made me better. But now as a professional I don't really know how to channel it or wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af3/scott-hamilton-14448_competitors_so-as-an-amateur-olympic-competitor-i-lo_1348629.jpg" --- # So as an amateur Olympic competitor I loved criticism… ![“So as an amateur Olympic competitor I loved criticism, because it made me better. But now as a professional I don't really know how to channel it or where to take it, so I don't take it quite as well.” quote by Scott Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af3/scott-hamilton-14448_competitors_so-as-an-amateur-olympic-competitor-i-lo_1348629.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af3/scott-hamilton-14448_competitors_so-as-an-amateur-olympic-competitor-i-lo_1348629.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af3/scott-hamilton-14448_competitors_so-as-an-amateur-olympic-competitor-i-lo_1348629.jpg) > “So as an amateur Olympic competitor I loved criticism, because it made me better. But now as a professional I don't really know how to channel it or where to take it, so I don't take it quite as well.” [Scott Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hamilton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticism improves skill, but professional level requires strategic handling of feedback. **In simple terms:** Criticism helps, but needs strategy. Key Takeaway Learn to manage criticism strategically. Themes self-improvement feedback professionalism Mood motivational analytical Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - coaching sessions - performance reviews - team meetings Key Concepts growth mindset skill development emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - How do you filter useful criticism? - When should you ignore feedback? A Different Perspective Too much criticism can erode confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Olympics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympics/) ## Related quotes > [Persons of delicate taste endure stupid criticism better than they do stupid praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philibert-joseph-roux/persons-of-delicate-taste-endure-stupid-criticism-better-than-they-do/) [Philibert Joseph Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philibert-joseph-roux/) > [“There's several reasons why it make sense to begin building a culture of radical candor by asking people to criticize you. First, it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-malone-scott/there-s-several-reasons-why-it-make-sense-to-begin-building-a-culture/) [Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) > [Instead of books, art, theatre, and music being consigned to specialized niches, we might have a criticism that better reflects the eclecticism of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-siegel/instead-of-books-art-theatre-and-music-being-consigned-to-specialized/) [Lee Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-siegel/) > [If you are going to do anything, you must expect criticism. But it's better to be a doer than a critic. The doer moves;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-barton/if-you-are-going-to-do-anything-you-must-expect-criticism-but-it-s/) [Bruce Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-barton/) > [If you want to write for T.V. and movies, you will be subjected to kind and unkind criticism. You had better get used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-beatts/if-you-want-to-write-for-t-v-and-movies-you-will-be-subjected-to-kind/) [Anne Beatts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-beatts/) > [Someone has said that even criticism is better than silence. I don't agree to this. Criticism can be very harmful unless it comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-scudder/someone-has-said-that-even-criticism-is-better-than-silence-i-don-t/) Janet Scudder > [I'm not supposed to be able to speak clearly, and decipher what's going on in the media. I'm supposed to be the typical amateur…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/i-m-not-supposed-to-be-able-to-speak-clearly-and-decipher-what-s/) [Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/) > [But I never really thought that I would be extraordinarily successful at skating, it's just something that happened, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hamilton/but-i-never-really-thought-that-i-would-be-extraordinarily-successful/) [Scott Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hamilton/) > [I think most amateurs dread playing a 180-plus-yard par 3 even more than a hard par 4. Part of it is psychological: You think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/i-think-most-amateurs-dread-playing-a-180-plus-yard-par-3-even-more/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [“The definition of a professional is one who does a job well even when they don't like it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-sheinwald/the-definition-of-a-professional-is-one-who-does-a-job-well-even-when/) Alan Sheinwald > [Every artist was first an amateur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-artist-was-first-an-amateur/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I did a musical when I was 17, an amateur show, and I loved it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taron-egerton/i-did-a-musical-when-i-was-17-an-amateur-show-and-i-loved-it/) [Taron Egerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taron-egerton/) > [My father was a GP; my mother was a teacher and amateur actress. My father was a bit of a storyteller, but the acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciaran-hinds/my-father-was-a-gp-my-mother-was-a-teacher-and-amateur-actress-my/) [Ciaran Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciaran-hinds/) > [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [“The amateur doesn't appreciate the need for experimentation. He wants his experts to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner-2/the-amateur-doesn-t-appreciate-the-need-for-experimentation-he-wants/) [B.F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner-2/) ## More by Scott Hamilton > [“The only handicap in life is a bad attitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hamilton/the-only-handicap-in-life-is-a-bad-attitude/) [Scott Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hamilton/) > [“What's the point of doing anything if it's easy? It's so much more valuable when a challenge has to be overcome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hamilton/what-s-the-point-of-doing-anything-if-it-s-easy-it-s-so-much-more/) [Scott Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hamilton/) > [“Focus on building up others, and your own sense of self-worth will improve. Some call these random acts of human kindness. But the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hamilton/focus-on-building-up-others-and-your-own-sense-of-self-worth-will/) [Scott Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hamilton/) > [But I never really thought that I would be extraordinarily successful at skating, it's just something that happened, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hamilton/but-i-never-really-thought-that-i-would-be-extraordinarily-successful/) [Scott Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hamilton/) > [“I learned that once you take advantage of the opportunity to learn and experience and open yourself to a new way of living, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hamilton/i-learned-that-once-you-take-advantage-of-the-opportunity-to-learn/) [Scott Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hamilton/) > [Most other competitions are individual achievements, but the Olympic Games is something that belongs to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hamilton/most-other-competitions-are-individual-achievements-but-the-olympic/) [Scott Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hamilton/) > [That's what makes the Ryder Cup in golf so much better than the Masters or the U.S. Open. To be a part of something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hamilton/that-s-what-makes-the-ryder-cup-in-golf-so-much-better-than-the/) [Scott Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hamilton/) > [“it doesn't matter what the challenge is -athletics, business, romance, health, academics, the arts- the rule for getting up is the same. you just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hamilton/it-doesn-t-matter-what-the-challenge-is-athletics-business-romance/) [Scott Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hamilton/) > [Always try to maintain complete tolerance and always make an effort to give people more than they expect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hamilton/always-try-to-maintain-complete-tolerance-and-always-make-an-effort/) [Scott Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hamilton/) > [From the fall of October, 1980 to March, 1984 I never lost a competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hamilton/from-the-fall-of-october-1980-to-march-1984-i-never-lost-a-competition/) [Scott Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hamilton/) > [“The only disability in life is a bad attitude. -Scott Hamilton”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hamilton/the-only-disability-in-life-is-a-bad-attitude-scott-hamilton/) [Scott Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hamilton/) > [When you're expected to win and you have the press saying that you are going to win the Olympic gold medal, and you're the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hamilton/when-you-re-expected-to-win-and-you-have-the-press-saying-that-you/) [Scott Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hamilton/) > [Male figure skating is different than female figure skating; we're not America's sweetheart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hamilton/male-figure-skating-is-different-than-female-figure-skating-we-re-not/) [Scott Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hamilton/) > [Always try to maintain complete tolerance and always make an effort to give people more then they expect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hamilton/always-try-to-maintain-complete-tolerance-and-always-make-an-effort-2/) [Scott Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hamilton/) > [Half of figure skating is opinion, convincing judges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hamilton/half-of-figure-skating-is-opinion-convincing-judges/) [Scott Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hamilton/) [Explore all 46 Scott Hamilton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hamilton/) ## More Amateur quotes > [“The amateur doesn't appreciate the need for experimentation. He wants his experts to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner-2/the-amateur-doesn-t-appreciate-the-need-for-experimentation-he-wants/) [B.F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner-2/) > [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [My father was a GP; my mother was a teacher and amateur actress. My father was a bit of a storyteller, but the acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciaran-hinds/my-father-was-a-gp-my-mother-was-a-teacher-and-amateur-actress-my/) [Ciaran Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciaran-hinds/) > [I did a musical when I was 17, an amateur show, and I loved it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taron-egerton/i-did-a-musical-when-i-was-17-an-amateur-show-and-i-loved-it/) [Taron Egerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taron-egerton/) > [Every artist was first an amateur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-artist-was-first-an-amateur/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“The definition of a professional is one who does a job well even when they don't like it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-sheinwald/the-definition-of-a-professional-is-one-who-does-a-job-well-even-when/) Alan Sheinwald > [I think most amateurs dread playing a 180-plus-yard par 3 even more than a hard par 4. Part of it is psychological: You think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/i-think-most-amateurs-dread-playing-a-180-plus-yard-par-3-even-more/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [I read a lot of 'Nancy Drew' books as a kid and considered myself a bit of an amateur detective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-cain/i-read-a-lot-of-nancy-drew-books-as-a-kid-and-considered-myself-a-bit/) [Chelsea Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-cain/) > [Professionalism is environmental. Amateurism is anti-environmental. Professionalism merges the individual into patterns of total environment. Amateurism seeks the development of the total awareness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/professionalism-is-environmental-amateurism-is-anti-environmental/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [You count a man's U.S. Amateur titles after he starts winning professional majors. That's something any intelligent golf writer with a sense of history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-jenkins/you-count-a-man-s-u-s-amateur-titles-after-he-starts-winning/) [Dan Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-jenkins/) > [Most amateurs are so worried about mis-hitting the shot or hitting it off line, they don't make an aggressive move. You'd be surprised how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-bradley/most-amateurs-are-so-worried-about-mis-hitting-the-shot-or-hitting-it/) [Keegan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-bradley/) > [Amateur boxing is one of the safest sports around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-calzaghe/amateur-boxing-is-one-of-the-safest-sports-around/) [Joe Calzaghe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-calzaghe/) > [“Amateur: One reckless enough to risk being interesting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-barringer/amateur-one-reckless-enough-to-risk-being-interesting/) David Barringer > [Time management is probably the biggest thing I've had to learn to deal with being on the PGA Tour, whether it be media or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-fowler/time-management-is-probably-the-biggest-thing-i-ve-had-to-learn-to/) [Rickie Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-fowler/) > [When people buy, rescue, or otherwise acquire a dog from unscrupulous breeders or amateur rescue groups, they are making a decision with ethical consequences.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-katz/when-people-buy-rescue-or-otherwise-acquire-a-dog-from-unscrupulous/) [Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/) Browse all 352 Amateur quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "So as an amateur Olympic competitor I loved criticism, because it made me better. 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