Sports quotes are expressions or statements made by athletes, coaches, commentators, or other individuals involved in sports.
These quotes often capture the spirit of competition, the thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat.
Here are some characteristics of sports quotes:
- Inspirational: Sports quotes are often designed to inspire athletes and fans alike. They may include motivational messages about working hard, staying focused, and never giving up.
- Memorable: Many sports quotes become memorable because of their emotional impact or the significance of the event they relate to. They are often repeated and shared widely among fans.
- Reflective: Sports quotes can offer insights into the minds of athletes and coaches, revealing their thoughts, feelings, and perspectives on competition and sportsmanship.
- Emotional: Sports quotes often tap into the emotions of athletes and fans, reflecting the highs and lows of competition, the thrill of victory, and the disappointment of defeat.
- Universal: Sports quotes can be relevant to anyone, regardless of their involvement in sports. They often speak to broader themes like perseverance, determination, and teamwork.
- Quotable: Many sports quotes are short, pithy, and easy to remember, making them ideal for use in speeches, social media posts, and other forms of communication.
Overall, sports quotes are a powerful way to capture the essence of sports and the emotions that come with it.
They offer a window into the minds and hearts of athletes and coaches, and they inspire and motivate fans around the world.
We have lots to share in this article, so let’s take a look.
Sports Quotes
Here are 70 sports quotes from a variety of athletes, coaches, commentators, and famous figures:
- “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.” – Vince Lombardi
- “I’ve failed over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
- “The only way to prove that you’re a good sport is to lose.” – Ernie Banks
- “Champions keep playing until they get it right.” – Billie Jean King
- “It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.” – Babe Ruth
- “One absolutely cannot tell, by watching, the difference between a .300 hitter and a .275 hitter. The difference is one hit every two weeks … The difference between a good and an average hitter is simply not visible – it is a matter of record.” – Bill James
- “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky
- “Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” – Bobby Unser
- “The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory.” – Les Brown
- “If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything.” – John Wooden
- “Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.” – Vince Lombardi
- The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
- “I’ve never lost a game, I just ran out of time.” – Michael Jordan
- “I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.” – Wayne Gretzky
- “If you don’t have confidence, you’ll always find a way not to win.” – Carl Lewis
- “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
- “The only disability in life is a bad attitude.” – Scott Hamilton
- “You can’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.” – Michael Phelps
- “The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.” – Tommy Lasorda
- “If you think you’re perfect already, then you never will be.” – Cristiano Ronaldo
- I’m a big believer in starting with high standards and raising them.” – Sam Walton
- “It’s not the will to win that matters – everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.” – Paul “Bear” Bryant
- “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” – Michael Jordan
- “When you’ve got something to prove, there’s nothing greater than a challenge.” – Terry Bradshaw
- You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.” – Michael Jordan
- “The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.” – Kobe Bryant
- “You can’t climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
- “The only true disability is the inability to accept and appreciate our differences.” – Evander Holyfield
- “The mind is everything. What you think, you become.” – Buddha
- “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela
- The best way to predict your future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln
- “You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.” – Michael Jordan
- “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” – Steve Prefontaine
- “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
- It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.” – Mark Twain
- “Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records.” – William Arthur Ward
- You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar
- “The pain you feel today will be the strength you feel tomorrow.” – Unknown
- “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” – Winston Churchill
- “I never lose. Either I win or learn.” – Nelson Mandela
- “A champion is someone who gets up when they can’t.” – Jack Dempsey
- “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky
- Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” – Michael Jordan
- 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
- If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb
- “The strongest people are not those who show strength in front of us but those who win battles we know nothing about.” – Unknown
- “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” – Tim Notke
- “The only thing better than a good loser is a humble winner.” – Unknown
- “Winning is not everything, but wanting to win is.” – Vince Lombardi
- “It’s not about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” – Rocky Balboa
- “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela
- “I never dreamt of success. I worked for it.” – Estee Lauder
- “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” – Albert Schweitzer
- “Success is not just what you accomplish in your life, it’s about what you inspire others to do.” – Unknown
- “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” – Vince Lombardi
- “If you can’t outplay them, outwork them.” – Ben Hogan
- “I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come.” – Michael Jordan
- “I am not a failure because I failed. I am a failure because I stopped trying.” – Unknown
- “Champions keep playing until they get it right.” – Billie Jean King
- “I never lose. I either win or learn.” – Nelson Mandela
- “The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.” – Tommy Lasorda
- “Success is not a destination, it’s a journey.” – Zig Ziglar
- “You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.” – Michael Jordan
- The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
- “The will to succeed is important, but what’s more important is the will to prepare.” – Bobby Knight
- “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it’s the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
Inspirational Sports Quotes
Inspirational Sports Quotes:
- “Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” – John Wooden
- “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky
- “Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” – Bobby Unser
- “Champions keep playing until they get it right.” – Billie Jean King
- “You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.” – Michael Jordan
- “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
- “The only way to prove that you’re a good sport is to lose.” – Ernie Banks
- “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
- “The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.” – Tommy Lasorda
- “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” – Tim Notke
Motivational Sports Quotes
Motivational Sports Quotes:
- “Push yourself again and again. Don’t give an inch until the final buzzer sounds.” – Larry Bird
- “The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning.” – Pele
- “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” – Vince Lombardi
- “I’ve never lost a game I just ran out of time.” – Michael Jordan
- “It’s not about the size of the dog in the fight, it’s about the size of the fight in the dog.” – Mark Twain
- “The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory.” – Les Brown
- “You can’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.” – Michael Phelps
- “If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.” – John Wooden
- “If you have everything under control, you’re not moving fast enough.” – Mario Andretti
- “You have to do something in your life that is honorable and not cowardly if you are to live in peace with yourself.” – Larry Brown
Famous Sports Quotes
Famous Sports Quotes:
- “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
- “I have failed again and again throughout my life. That’s why I have been successful.” – Michael Jordan
- “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
- “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela
- “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
- “It’s not the will to win that matters—everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.” – Paul “Bear” Bryant
- “The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning.” – Pele
- “It ain’t over ’til it’s over.” – Yogi Berra
- “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” – Vince Lombardi
- “You can’t win unless you learn how to lose.” – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Best Sports Quotes
Best Sports Quotes:
- “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky
- “It’s not the will to win that matters—everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.” – Paul “Bear” Bryant
- “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” – Tim Notke
- “The only way to prove that you’re a good sport is to lose.” – Ernie Banks
- “Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” – Bobby Unser
- “The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.” – Tommy Lasorda
- “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” – Vince Lombardi
- “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
- “You have to do something in your life that is honorable and not cowardly if you are to live in peace with yourself.” – Larry Brown
- “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Funny Sports Quotes
Funny Sports Quotes:
- “The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they do not know the game.” – Bill Shankly
- “I won’t know until my editor tells me if there is a good story in the game I missed.” – Grantland Rice
- “If at first, you don’t succeed, then skydiving is not for you.” – Unknown
- “I never graduated from Iowa. But I was only there for two terms—Truman’s and Eisenhower’s.” – Alex Karras
- “I’m glad I don’t play anymore. I could never learn all those handshakes.” – Phil Rizzuto
- “I’ve been blessed with a lot of talent, but my talent is my ability to work hard.” – Tom Brady
- “I always thought a yard was three feet, then I started punting.” – Ray Guy
- “I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people’s accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man’s failures.” – Earl Warren
- “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” – Mark Twain
- I never pray for a lighter load, but I pray for a stronger back.” – Phillips Brooks
Sports Quotes for Kids
Sports Quotes for Kids:
- “Practice like a champion today so you can play like one tomorrow.” – Unknown
- “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” – Grantland Rice
- “The only way to have success in sports is to never give up and keep trying your best.” – Unknown
- “It’s not about being the best. It’s about giving it your all every time you step on the field.” – Unknown
- “In sports, you learn to work hard, persevere, and never give up. These are qualities that will help you succeed in life.” – Unknown
- “It’s okay to make mistakes. Just learn from them and keep trying your best.” – Unknown
- “Win or lose, always be a good sport and show respect to your opponents.” – Unknown
- Sports are about having fun and making friends, not just about winning.” – Unknown
- “Every game is a new opportunity to learn and improve.” – Unknown
- “Teamwork makes the dream work. When we work together, we can achieve anything.”
Short Sports Quotes
Short Sports Quotes:
- “Just do it.” – Nike
- “Leave it all on the field.” – Unknown
- “Play like a champion.” – Unknown
- “Go hard or go home.” – Unknown
- “Champions are made when no one is watching.” – Unknown
- “Sweat plus sacrifice equals success.” – Charles O. Finley
- “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” – Gary Player
- “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” – Steve Prefontaine
- “No pain, no gain.” – Unknown
- “Play with heart.” – Unknown
Team Quotes for Sports
Team Quotes for Sports:
- “Individual commitment to a group effort—that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” – Vince Lombardi
- “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” – Henry Ford
- “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” – Phil Jackson
- “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” – Michael Jordan
- “Teamwork makes the dream work.” – John C. Maxwell
- Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.” – Steve Jobs
- “The best teams are those where everyone knows their role and performs it to the best of their ability.” – Unknown
- “It takes a team to win a championship, not just one superstar.” – Unknown
- “A successful team beats with one heart.” – Unknown
- “We may have different goals, but we all play for the same team.” – Unknown
Good Sports Quotes
Good Sports Quotes:
- “Sportsmanship is the ability to win without boasting, lose without excuse, and never quit.” – Unknown
- “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” – Grantland Rice
- “A true champion is someone who wants to make a difference, who never gives up, and who gives everything they have no matter what the circumstances are.” – Unknown
- “Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.” – Vince Lombardi
- “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela
- “Respect your opponents, and the game will respect you.” – Unknown
- “Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the obstacles you overcome.” – Unknown
- “A true champion is someone who overcomes challenges with a smile on their face and a fire in their heart.” – Unknown
- “It’s not about winning or losing, it’s about how you play the game.” – Unknown
- “Sports teaches you character, it teaches you to play by the rules, it teaches you to know what it feels like to win and lose—it teaches you about life.” – Billie Jean King
Sports Movie Quotes
Sports Movie Quotes:
- If you build it, he will come.” – Field of Dreams (1989)
- “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” – Rudy (1993)
- “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.” – Friday Night Lights (2006)
- “You’re killing me, Smalls!” – The Sandlot (1993)
- “Nobody can deny that I’ve got guts.” – Rocky (1976)
- “Great moments are born from great opportunity.” – Miracle (2004)
- “Life is a game of inches, and we fight for every inch.” – Any Given Sunday (1999)
- “What makes you so special? You’re just a stupid little golden glove!” – Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)
- “You can’t win a race by running the same speed as everyone else.” – Cars (2006)
- “We are the titans, mighty mighty titans!” – Remember the Titans (2000)
Champion Sports Quotes
Here are some champion sports quotes from some of the greatest athletes, coaches, and commentators of all time:
- “Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision.” – Muhammad Ali
- “Champions keep playing until they get it right.” – Billie Jean King
- “Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, and months, they spend preparing for it.” – T. Alan Armstrong
- “Champions are willing to do things they hate to do, but they do them anyway.” – Bob Rotella
- “Champions are made when no one is watching.” – Unknown
- “Being a champion is all about the little things you do, the little things you notice, the little things you say and the little things you don’t say.” – Tim Tebow
- “Champions don’t show up to get everything they want; they show up to give everything they have.” – Unknown
- “Champions are not the ones who never fail, but the ones who never quit.” – Unknown
- “Champions believe in themselves, even when no one else does.” – Unknown
- “Champions aren’t defined by their wins, but how they can recover when they fall.” – Serena Williams
- “A true champion is someone who wants to make a difference, who never gives up, and who gives everything they have no matter what the circumstances are.” – Arthur Ashe
- “The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.” – Tommy Lasorda
- “Champions know there are no shortcuts to the top. They climb the mountain one step at a time. They have no use for helicopters!” – Judi Adler
- “Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision.” – Muhammad Ali
- “A champion is someone who gets up when they can’t.” – Jack Dempsey
- “Champions aren’t the ones who always win races – champions are the ones who get out there and try. And try harder the next time. And even harder the next time. ‘Champion’ is a state of mind. They are devoted. They compete to best themselves as much if not more than they compete to best others.” – Simon Sinek
- “Champions are not made in the ring, they are merely recognized there.” – Joe Frazier
- “A champion is someone who does not settle for that day’s practice, that day’s competition, that day’s performance. They are always striving to be better. They don’t live in the past.” – Briana Scurry
- “Champions are made from something they have deep inside of them – a desire, a dream, a vision.” – Mahatma Gandhi
- “Champions are not the ones who never fail, but the ones who never quit.” – Unknown
- “Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose. Nobody goes undefeated all the time. If you can pick up after a crushing defeat, and go on to win again, you are going to be a champion someday.” – Wilma Rudolph
- “Champions train, losers complain.” – Unknown
- “Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision.” – Muhammad Ali
Sports Quotes About Hard Work
Sports Quotes About Hard Work:
- “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” – Tim Notke
- “The dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success.” – Vince Lombardi
- “I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come.” – Michael Jordan
- “The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.” – Vidal Sassoon
- “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
- “Sweat plus sacrifice equals success.” – Charles O. Finley
- “I’m a firm believer in the harder you work, the luckier you get.” – Gary Player
- “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
- “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” – Pele
- “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
Sports Mindset Quotes
Sports Mindset Quotes:
- “Your mindset determines your success.” – Unknown
- “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford
- “The biggest challenge in sports is to stay mentally tough.” – Unknown
- “Your mind is your strongest muscle. Train it well.” – Unknown
- “It’s not the will to win that matters—everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.” – Paul “Bear” Bryant
- “The mind is everything. What you think you become.” – Buddha
- “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela
- “Positive anything is better than negative nothing.” – Elbert Hubbard
- “The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
- “The true test of a champion is not whether he can triumph, but whether he can overcome obstacles.” – Garth Stein
Youth Sports Quotes
Youth Sports Quotes:
- “The only way to have success in sports is to never give up and keep trying your best.” – Unknown
- “In sports, you learn to work hard, persevere, and never give up. These are qualities that will help you succeed in life.” – Unknown
- “It’s not about being the best. It’s about giving it your all every time you step on the field.” – Unknown
- “Every game is a new opportunity to learn and improve.” – Unknown
- “Win or lose, always be a good sport and show respect to your opponents.” – Unknown
- “Sports are about having fun and making friends, not just about winning.” – Unknown
- “When you’re part of a team, you stand by your teammates no matter what.” – Unknown
- The best way to have fun in sports is to play with passion and heart.” – Unknown
- “Don’t let mistakes get you down. Learn from them and keep moving forward.” – Unknown
- “The most important thing is to never give up and always believe in yourself.” – Unknown
Winning Sports Quotes
Winning Sports Quotes:
- “Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.” – Vince Lombardi
- “Victory is in having done your best. If you’ve done your best, you’ve won.” – Bill Bowerman
- “I play to win, whether during practice or a real game. And I will not let anything get in the way of me and my competitive enthusiasm to win.” – Michael Jordan
- “The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital.” – Joe Paterno
- “Winning is not a sometime thing, it’s an all-time thing. You don’t win once in a while, you don’t do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit.” – Vince Lombardi
- “Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose. Nobody goes undefeated all the time. If you can pick up after a crushing defeat, and go on to win again, you are going to be a champion someday.” – Wilma Rudolph
- “Winning is not everything, but wanting to win is.” – Unknown
- “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” – Albert Schweitzer
- “To succeed… You need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you.” – Tony Dorsett
- “Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.” – Vince Lombardi
Preparation Quotes – Sports
Preparation Quotes – Sports:
- “Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” – Bobby Unser
- “The more I practice, the luckier I get.” – Gary Player
- “The will to prepare is more important than the will to win.” – Bobby Knight
- “Preparation is the key to success.” – Alexander Graham Bell
- “Preparation is not only about getting ready for a game, it’s also about getting ready for life.” – Unknown
- “If you fail to prepare, you’re prepared to fail.” – Mark Spitz
- “If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.” – John Wooden
- “The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory.” – Les Brown
- “The more you sweat in practice, the less you bleed in battle.” – Unknown
- “Preparation breeds confidence. Confidence breeds success.” – Unknown
Positive Sports Quotes
Positive Sports Quotes:
- “Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.” – Christian D. Larson
- “Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.” – Zig Ziglar
- “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
- “Positive anything is better than negative nothing.” – Elbert Hubbard
- “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela
- “The most important thing is to never give up and always believe in yourself.” – Unknown
- “A positive attitude can lead to positive outcomes.” – Unknown
- “The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes.” – William James
- “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis
- “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” – Helen Keller
Conclusion – Sports Quotes
Sports quotes have been used for generations to inspire, motivate, and encourage athletes and fans alike.
These quotes capture the essence of competition, teamwork, and perseverance, and they offer insights into the minds and hearts of some of the greatest athletes and coaches of all time.
From Muhammad Ali’s famous quote about being a champion to Michael Jordan’s wisdom on never giving up, sports quotes have become a powerful tool for inspiring individuals to achieve greatness in all aspects of their lives.
Whether you are an athlete, coach, or fan, these quotes remind us that success is not just about winning, but also about hard work, determination, and the willingness to keep going, even in the face of adversity.
