Game-Changing Wisdom: All-Time 30 Greatest Sports Quotes

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Whether you’re looking for individual or team inspiration, there are countless fantastic famous sports quotes to inspire and motivate.

Yet, finding the greatest quotes can be a daunting task.

Therefore, we’ve worked hard to compile the greatest sports quotes of all time from some of history’s greatest sportsmen and women.

This collection of quotes is a terrific source whenever you need the perfect words to ignite enthusiasm or inspire success. 

Enjoy reading these amazing, thought-provoking famous sports quotes as well as those that will motivate you to achieve your goals.

Greatest Sports Quotes

While sports are known for generating exceptional athletes, interesting people, and iconic heroes, not all have left a lasting impact through their words.

These people, who range from legendary players to ferocious coaches, never appeared to hesitate when expressing their opinions, and almost anyone can draw inspiration from their words.

So, without further ado, here are some of the greatest sports quotes ever.

#1

“Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win.” — Gary Lineker (former football player)

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Related: The All-Time Greatest Football Quotes

#2

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” — Michael Jordan (former professional basketball player)

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#3

“Gold medals aren’t really made of gold. They’re made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.” — Dan Gable (American wrestler)

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#4

“Show me a good loser, and I’ll show you a loser.” — Vince Lombardi (American football coach)

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#5

“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday’s success or put its failures behind and start over again. That’s the way life is, with a new game every day, and that’s the way baseball is.” — Bob Feller (baseball player)

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#6

“You wouldn’t have won if we’d beaten you.” — Yogi Berra (baseball catcher)

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Related: Babe Ruth Quotes: 30 Quotes In Memory Of Baseball’s Hero

#7

“Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.” — Satchel Paige (baseball player)

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#8

“Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” — Bobby Unser (American automobile racer)

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#9

“You can’t win unless you learn how to lose.” — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (American former professional basketball player)

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Related: 30 Kobe Bryant Quotes In Honour Of The Basketball Legend

#10

“A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.” — Wayne Gretzky (Canadian ice hockey player)

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#11

“Champions keep playing until they get it right.” — Billie Jean King (American tennis player)

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#12

“One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than a hundred teaching it.” — Knute Rockne (Norwegian-born American football player and coach)

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10 Best Sports Quotes To Boost Team Spirit

Many famous quotes about sports frequently discuss achievement and success, which are subjects that undoubtedly appeal to players of all ages and skill levels. 

Read these best sports quotes and learn more on this subject from some legendary athletes and coaches.

#1

“No matter how good you get you can always get better, and that’s the exciting part.” — Tiger Woods (American professional golfer)

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#2

“In the sports arena I would say there is nothing like training and preparation. You have to train your mind as much as your body.” — Venus Williams (American tennis player)

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#3

“If winning isn’t everything, why do they keep score?” — Vince Lombardi (American football coach)

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#4

“As a player and as a coach, I have to say that both professionalism and passion are equally important in both cases.” — Andrea Giani (Italian professional volleyball coach and former player)

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#5

“I never smile when I have a bat in my hands. That’s when you’ve got to be serious. When I get out on the field, nothing’s a joke to me. I don’t feel like I should walk around with a smile on my face.” — Hank Aaron (American baseball player)

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#6

“When you want to win a game, you have to teach. When you lose a game, you have to learn.” — Tom Landry (American football player)

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#7

“Coaches have to watch for what they don’t want to see and listen to what they don’t want to hear.” — John Madden (American football coach and sports commentator)

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#8

“If you don’t believe in yourself, why should anyone else believe in you? We can be our own best friends or our own worst enemies. I have always vowed to be my own best friend by exhibiting a positive attitude.” — Derek Jeter (American former professional baseball shortstop, baseball executive, and businessman)

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Related: 30 Teamwork Quotes To Ignite Collaboration

Motivational Sports Quotes

Success in sports or even in any field of life doesn’t just happen. It requires commitment, effort, and sacrifice. However, successful athletes’ and coaches’ statements can inspire and motivate players to keep striving and working harder. 

Therefore, here we have compiled some best motivational sports quotes from some of the greatest sportspersons of all time.

#1

“Don’t lose faith in your dreams, keep fighting for what you love, and if you always give everything you have you’ll be happy no matter what the outcome.” – Lindsey Vonn (American alpine ski racer)

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#2

“If you train hard, you’ll not only be hard, you’ll be hard to beat.” — Herschel Walker (American football running back)

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#3

“I think goals should never be easy, they should force you to work, even if they are uncomfortable at the time.” — Michael Phelps (American swimmer)

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#4

“You’re never a loser until you quit trying.” — Mike Ditka (American former football player and coach)

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#5

“You learn you can do your best even when it’s hard, even when you’re tired and maybe hurting a little bit. It feels good to show some courage.” — Joe Namath (American football quarterback)

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#6

“I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.” — Muhammad Ali (American professional boxer)

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#7

“You are either getting better or getting worse, but you are never staying the same.” — Drew Brees (American football quarterback)

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#8

“If you can’t outplay them, outwork them.” — Ben Hogan (American professional golfer)

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#9

“The key is not the will to win … everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important.” — Bobby Knight (American former basketball coach)

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#10

“Life is often compared to a marathon, but I think it is more like being a sprinter; long stretches of hard work punctuated by brief moments in which we are given the opportunity to perform at our best.” — Michael Johnson (American mixed martial artist)

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The Wrap-Up!

We hope you’ve enjoyed our list of the greatest sports quotes of all time.

Inspiration and motivation can come from anywhere, and even if you’re not a sportsperson yourself, there are many other aspects of life to which you can apply the lessons learned through the above quotes.

If you’re still looking for some inspiration, check out these motivational quotes for any situation. You surely find something that will help you in your journey!

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Paul Smith recently completed his first 100 mile ultra, graduating to the field after discovering running in 2014 and getting hooked on 5k's and 10k's.

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