The 20 Greatest Sports Psychology Quotes of All Time

Being a great athlete not only requires great physical attributes, but also a mastery of the mental game. Most of the greatest athletes in sports history became great because they mastered the psychological aspect of their respective game. As we gear up for another amazing fall sports season, we decided it was time to take a look at some of the greatest sports psychology quotes from some of the greatest professional athletes and coaches in sports history:

1. “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

2. “It’s not up to me whether I win or lose. Ultimately, this might not be my day. And is is that philosophy towards sports, something that I really truly live by. I am emotional. I want to win. I am hungry. I am a competitor. I have that fire. But deep down, I truly enjoy the art of competing so much more than the result.” –Apolo Ohno

3. “It doesn’t matter whether you are pursuing success in business, sports, the arts, or life in general: the bridge between wishing and accomplishing is discipline.” –Harvey Mackay

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

5. “That’s the one thing you learn in sports. You don’t give up; you fight to the finish.” –Louis Zamperini

6. “Just be patient. Let the game come to you. Don’t rush. Be quick, but don’t hurry.” –Earl Monroe

7. “I am building a fire, and every day I train, I add more fuel. At just the right moment, I light the match.” –Mia Hamm

8. “If you meet the Buddha in the lane, feed him the ball.” –Phil Jackson

9. “The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don’t play together, the club won’t be worth a dime.” –Babe Ruth

10. “The world of sports knows no religious, racial, or political differences. Athletes, from whatever land they come, speak the same language. The lessons of competition are lessons for life.” –Robert Kennedy

11. “Sports is a metaphor for overcoming obstacles and achieving against great odds. Athletes, in times of difficulty, can be important role models.” –Bill Bradley

12. “I won’t predict anything historic. But nothing is impossible.” –Michael Phelps

13. “A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.” –Wayne Gretzky

14. “Baseball is the only field of endeavor where a man can succeed three times out of ten and be considered a good performer.” Ted Williams

15. “You win some, lose some, and wreck some.” –Dale Earnhardt

16. “Commitment, belief, and positive attitude are all important if you’re going to be a success, whether you’re in sports, in business, or, as in my case, anthropology.” –Donald Johanson

17. “Sport is a wonderful metaphor for life. Of all the sports that I played—skiing, baseball, fishing—there is no greater example than golf because you’re playing against yourself and nature.” –Robert Redford

18. “Winning is habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.” –Vince Lombardi

19. “You can’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.” –Michael Phelps

20. “I was always into sports, and as a spokesperson, you need to be fit to survive and play from start to finish.” –Disha Patani

 

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