---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Carl Lewis wasn't a great sprinter. He…"
description: "\"Carl Lewis wasn't a great sprinter. He could only run fast for like 9 seconds.\" — Serge Ibaka"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/serge-ibaka-5301_funny_carl-lewis-wasn-t-a-great-sprinter-he-co_2833109.png"
---

#  Carl Lewis wasn't a great sprinter. He could only run fast…

![“Carl Lewis wasn't a great sprinter. He could only run fast for like 9 seconds.” quote by Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/serge-ibaka-5301_funny_carl-lewis-wasn-t-a-great-sprinter-he-co_2833109.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/serge-ibaka-5301_funny_carl-lewis-wasn-t-a-great-sprinter-he-co_2833109.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/serge-ibaka-5301_funny_carl-lewis-wasn-t-a-great-sprinter-he-co_2833109.png)

> “Carl Lewis wasn't a great sprinter. He could only run fast for like 9 seconds.”

[Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote suggests that Carl Lewis's sprinting success was limited to very short bursts, implying he lacked endurance for longer distances.

**In simple terms:** Lewis excelled only in short sprints.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the limits of speed.

Themes

sports performance human physiology training

Mood

analytical critical

Type

observational analytical

When to use this quote

- track events
- training programs
- coaching strategies

Key Concepts

endurance burst speed muscle fiber types

Questions to Reflect On

- How does burst speed differ from sustained speed?
- What training improves both speed and endurance?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carl-lewis-3671975/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Great Sprinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-sprinter-1065732/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Lewis Wasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lewis-wasn-3671974/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Seconds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seconds/) [Sprinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sprinter/) [Sprinter Run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sprinter-run-3671976/) [Sprinters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sprinters/)

## Related quotes

> [I like to think of myself as a pretty good athlete, I don't think I'm a great sprinter, but 200, 400, maybe 800. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-hill/i-like-to-think-of-myself-as-a-pretty-good-athlete-i-don-t-think-i-m/)

[Grant Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-hill/)

> [When you win sprints, you're a great sprinter, but when you win a great one-day race, you've proved you're a great rider.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cavendish/when-you-win-sprints-you-re-a-great-sprinter-but-when-you-win-a-great/)

[Mark Cavendish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cavendish/)

> [You need to become more than one type of athlete. You have to be a sprinter, a weight man and a distance guy all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-o-brien/you-need-to-become-more-than-one-type-of-athlete-you-have-to-be-a/)

[Dan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-o-brien/)

> [To a sprinter, the hundred-yard dash is over in three seconds, not nine or ten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/to-a-sprinter-the-hundred-yard-dash-is-over-in-three-seconds-not-nine-2/)

[Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/)

> [We crave instant success these days. If you are a really good sprinter and long jumper, you don't want to spend two or three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daley-thompson/we-crave-instant-success-these-days-if-you-are-a-really-good-sprinter/)

[Daley Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daley-thompson/)

> [Double gold means I'm king of the sprints. It shows I'm the best sprinter around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-gatlin/double-gold-means-i-m-king-of-the-sprints-it-shows-i-m-the-best/)

[Justin Gatlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-gatlin/)

> [When I was young, I was too slow. I thought I must learn to run fast by practicing to run fast, so I ran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-zatopek/when-i-was-young-i-was-too-slow-i-thought-i-must-learn-to-run-fast-by-2/)

[Emil Zatopek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-zatopek/)

> [The poster boy for our superabled future is Oscar Pistorius, an increasingly famous South African sprinter who happens to have had both of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/the-poster-boy-for-our-superabled-future-is-oscar-pistorius-an/)

[Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/)

> [I realized that I was more of a sprinter than a marathon man. With a long, long project, I get bored easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/i-realized-that-i-was-more-of-a-sprinter-than-a-marathon-man-with-a/)

[Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/)

> [You learn to run like a sprinter, you'll be a great distance runner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-salazar/you-learn-to-run-like-a-sprinter-you-ll-be-a-great-distance-runner/)

[Alberto Salazar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-salazar/)

> [To a sprinter, the hundred-yard dash is over in three seconds, not nine or ten. The first 'second' is when you come out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/to-a-sprinter-the-hundred-yard-dash-is-over-in-three-seconds-not-nine/)

[Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/)

> [How you start is important, but it is how you finish that counts. In the race for success, speed is less important than stamina.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/how-you-start-is-important-but-it-is-how-you-finish-that-counts-in/)

[B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/)

> [A lot of sprinters aren't football players. I'm a football player. That's the difference between me and a sprinter. My knowledge of the game.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquise-goodwin/a-lot-of-sprinters-aren-t-football-players-i-m-a-football-player-that/)

[Marquise Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquise-goodwin/)

> [Being a comedian is a lot like being an athlete. If you're Carl Lewis and you're the fastest, then no matter what you're the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/being-a-comedian-is-a-lot-like-being-an-athlete-if-you-re-carl-lewis/)

[Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/)

> [Carl Lewis was definitely a role model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-gatlin/carl-lewis-was-definitely-a-role-model/)

[Justin Gatlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-gatlin/)

## More by Serge Ibaka

> [One of the things I learned playing on a good team is when the team wins, when you make the playoffs, everybody looks good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/one-of-the-things-i-learned-playing-on-a-good-team-is-when-the-team/)

[Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/)

> [Not everybody can do everything at a high level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/not-everybody-can-do-everything-at-a-high-level/)

[Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/)

> [My dad used to play basketball, now he gets to see me in the NBA Finals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/my-dad-used-to-play-basketball-now-he-gets-to-see-me-in-the-nba-finals/)

[Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/)

> [I love to lift after games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/i-love-to-lift-after-games/)

[Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/)

> [My father was always pushing me to become a basketball player. In Africa, when you're a kid, every kid loves to play soccer, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/my-father-was-always-pushing-me-to-become-a-basketball-player-in/)

[Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/)

> [I'm not really good at asking people questions in interviews. I just try to have fun, to talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/i-m-not-really-good-at-asking-people-questions-in-interviews-i-just/)

[Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/)

> [Money will not make you happy. It's most important that you need to be happy. You need to do something you want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/money-will-not-make-you-happy-it-s-most-important-that-you-need-to-be/)

[Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/)

> [End of the day, when you do something, you have to do something where you bring people together. You can't do something where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/end-of-the-day-when-you-do-something-you-have-to-do-something-where/)

[Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/)

> [I always put in the work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/i-always-put-in-the-work/)

[Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/)

> [My confidence comes on defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/my-confidence-comes-on-defense/)

[Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/)

> [I've been learning when to block shots against who I'm playing. I'm not just going to leave a shooter to go block shots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/i-ve-been-learning-when-to-block-shots-against-who-i-m-playing-i-m/)

[Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/)

> [Where I come from, dressing is a culture. When I go back home, I cannot dress bad. I cannot miss, or people will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/where-i-come-from-dressing-is-a-culture-when-i-go-back-home-i-cannot/)

[Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/)

> [You can't force people to love you. If you love somebody, you love them because you love them. People who love you, it doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/you-can-t-force-people-to-love-you-if-you-love-somebody-you-love-them/)

[Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/)

> [It's always fun to play on a winning team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/it-s-always-fun-to-play-on-a-winning-team/)

[Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/)

> [I know people that was playing basketball better than me. If they were in the NBA, they could be All-Stars, those people. They just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/i-know-people-that-was-playing-basketball-better-than-me-if-they-were/)

[Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/)

[Explore all 102 Serge Ibaka quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/)

## More Funny quotes

> [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/)

[Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/)

> [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/)

[Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/)

[Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/)

> [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [Sometimes I look at my awesome twitter followers &amp; think to myself, What the hell would I do without them :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/sometimes-i-look-at-my-awesome-twitter-followers-think-to-myself-what/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [The happy have whole days,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-happy-have-whole-days/)

[Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/)

> [Congratulations to Facebook on going public with all my private information...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/congratulations-to-facebook-on-going-public-with-all-my-private/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Why are things as they are and not otherwise?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/why-are-things-as-they-are-and-not-otherwise/)

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

> [I've been funny my whole life. This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/)

[Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/)

> [Penis goes in , sperms cums out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/penis-goes-in-sperms-cums-out/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [If you were to send a werewolf to the moon, would he be a werewolf permanently?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-schaal/if-you-were-to-send-a-werewolf-to-the-moon-would-he-be-a-werewolf/)

[Kristen Schaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-schaal/)

> [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/)

[Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/)

> [If you can connect people, you can create the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-heiferman/if-you-can-connect-people-you-can-create-the-future/)

[Scott Heiferman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-heiferman/)

> [Don't think OF the market. Think AS the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fishman/don-t-think-of-the-market-think-as-the-market/)

[Michael Fishman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fishman/)

[Browse all 39,858 Funny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Carl Lewis wasn't a great sprinter. He could only run fast for like 9 seconds.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Serge Ibaka"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/carl-lewis-wasn-t-a-great-sprinter-he-could-only-run-fast-for-like-9/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Funny"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/carl-lewis-wasn-t-a-great-sprinter-he-could-only-run-fast-for-like-9/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/serge-ibaka-5301_funny_carl-lewis-wasn-t-a-great-sprinter-he-co_2833109.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/serge-ibaka-5301_funny_carl-lewis-wasn-t-a-great-sprinter-he-co_2833109.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/serge-ibaka-5301_funny_carl-lewis-wasn-t-a-great-sprinter-he-co_2833109.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Carl Lewis wasn't a great sprinter. He could only run fast for like 9 seconds.” — Serge Ibaka",
                "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": "Serge Ibaka",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Carl Lewis wasn't a great sprinter....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/carl-lewis-wasn-t-a-great-sprinter-he-could-only-run-fast-for-like-9/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/carl-lewis-wasn-t-a-great-sprinter-he-could-only-run-fast-for-like-9/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
