--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great thing about athletics is that…" description: "\"The great thing about athletics is that it's like poker sometimes: you know what's in your hand, and it may be a load of rubbish, but you've got to kee..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/sebastian-coe-8305_about_the-great-thing-about-athletics-is-that_2440392.png" --- # The great thing about athletics is that it's like poker… ![“The great thing about athletics is that it's like poker sometimes: you know what's in your hand, and it may be a load of rubbish, but you've got to keep up the front.” quote by Sebastian Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/sebastian-coe-8305_about_the-great-thing-about-athletics-is-that_2440392.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/sebastian-coe-8305_about_the-great-thing-about-athletics-is-that_2440392.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/sebastian-coe-8305_about_the-great-thing-about-athletics-is-that_2440392.png) > “The great thing about athletics is that it's like poker sometimes: you know what's in your hand, and it may be a load of rubbish, but you've got to keep up the front.” [Sebastian Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-coe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Athletes must maintain confidence despite uncertain abilities, similar to poker bluffing. **In simple terms:** Keep confidence even when uncertain. Key Takeaway Maintain composure and confidence. Themes confidence uncertainty performance resilience mindset Mood determined steady Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - sports competition - public speaking - high‑stakes negotiations Key Concepts psychology risk management self‑presentation Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance confidence with realistic self‑assessment? - When might bluffing backfire? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can lead to reckless decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athletics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletics/) [Great thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-thing/) [Poker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poker/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [There's lots of people my age (and younger) that have grown up in chaotic environments and I just happen to be one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kluwe/there-s-lots-of-people-my-age-and-younger-that-have-grown-up-in/) [Chris Kluwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kluwe/) > [Because I just like sports, I like athletics and I like competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trishelle-cannatella/because-i-just-like-sports-i-like-athletics-and-i-like-competition/) [Trishelle Cannatella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trishelle-cannatella/) > [Athletics is not like cricket; we feed on the competition and that makes us bring out the best in us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dutee-chand/athletics-is-not-like-cricket-we-feed-on-the-competition-and-that/) [Dutee Chand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dutee-chand/) > [I like watching athletics and I like watching boxing. Probably the sprints, I like watching sprinting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimi-manuwa/i-like-watching-athletics-and-i-like-watching-boxing-probably-the/) [Jimi Manuwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimi-manuwa/) > [“Susan's gotta poker, you know," it said, as if anxious to be helpful. WELL, WELL. INDEED. MY GOODNESS ME. "I fort- thought all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/susan-s-gotta-poker-you-know-it-said-as-if-anxious-to-be-helpful-well/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Life is just like the game of poker, you never know what cards you will get. Sitting against the people, you can either win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prerna-varma/life-is-just-like-the-game-of-poker-you-never-know-what-cards-you/) Prerna Varma > [It's okay," he informs me. "Your grandfather is teaching me how to play poker." 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Life is like a poker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-brett/it-doesn-t-matter-what-has-happened-to-you-it-matters-what-you-do/) [Regina Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-brett/) > [Loves a lot like poker. You show your cards too early you'll be leaving early too. The most powerful one in the room is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/loves-a-lot-like-poker-you-show-your-cards-too-early-you-ll-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is like a poker game. you've got to know when to hold the hand you got dealt and play it out, likewise, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-like-a-poker-game-you-ve-got-to-know-when-to-hold-the-hand/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just watch your Queen baby like a poker cards fan, I tap that and then play her like GarageBand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chamillionaire/just-watch-your-queen-baby-like-a-poker-cards-fan-i-tap-that-and-then/) [Chamillionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chamillionaire/) ## More by Sebastian Coe > [Sport was an integral part of school life. The most influential teachers were not necessarily the PE teachers, but the teachers who helped me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-coe/sport-was-an-integral-part-of-school-life-the-most-influential/) [Sebastian Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-coe/) > [Marathons don't come to you overnight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-coe/marathons-don-t-come-to-you-overnight/) [Sebastian Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-coe/) > [Blink and you miss a sprint. The 10,000 meters is lap after lap of waiting. 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