Top Sports Mental Toughness Quotes to Motivate Athletes

“The most important attribute a player must have is mental toughness.” – Mia Hamm

“I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life a champion.” – Muhammad Ali

“If you are afraid of failure you don’t deserve to be successful!” – Charles Barkley

“There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.” – Derek Jeter

“Mental will is a muscle that needs exercise, just like muscles of the body.” – Lynn Jennings

“Persistence can change failure into extraordinary achievement.” – Matt Biondi

“Age is no barrier. It’s a limitation you put on your mind.” – Jackie Joyner-Kersee

“If you aren’t going all the way, why go at all?” – Joe Namath

“Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up.” – Dean Karnazes

“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.” – Tommy Lasorda

“Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best.” – Tim Duncan

“When I race my mind is full of doubts – who will finish second, who will finish third?” – Noureddine Morceli

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

“Never give up! Failure and rejection are only the first step to succeeding.” – Jim Valvano

“You have to believe in yourself when no one else does – that makes you a winner right there.” – Venus Williams

“A champion is someone who gets up when he can’t.” – Jack Dempsey

“Football is football and talent is talent. But the mindset of your team makes all the difference.” – Robert Griffin III

“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.” – Babe Ruth

“Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you.” – Arnold Palmer

“You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good.” – Jerry West

“I’ve missed more than 9,000 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

“While you can’t control what happens to you, you can control how you react.” – John Wooden

“Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” – Michael Jordan

“You’re never a loser until you quit trying.” – Mike Ditka

“Show me a guy who’s afraid to look bad, and I’ll show you a guy you can beat every time.” – Lou Brock

“There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out. There’s no such thing as life in-between.” – Pat Riley

“Push yourself again and again. Don’t give an inch until the final buzzer sounds.” – Larry Bird

“If you only ever give 90% in training then you will only ever give 90% when it matters.” – Michael Owen

“The vision of a champion is someone who is bent over, drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion, when no one else is watching.” – Anson Dorrance

“To uncover your true potential you must first find your own limits and then you have to have the courage to blow past them.” – Picabo Street

“When guys are tired, it’s tough. But when they’re mentally tired, they’re done. That means it’s over.” – Doc Rivers

“Here’s how I’m going to beat you. I’m going to outwork you. That’s it. That’s all there is to it.” – Pat Summit

“As you think so shall you become.” – Bruce Lee