{"id":118614,"date":"2014-12-31T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-12-31T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=118614"},"modified":"2015-01-02T06:05:33","modified_gmt":"2015-01-02T13:05:33","slug":"10-motivational-quotes-swimming-stars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/10-motivational-quotes-swimming-stars\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Motivational Quotes From Our Swimming Stars"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Seren Jones, Swimming World College Intern<\/em><\/p>\n

With just a few\u00a0hours left of 2014, what better way to enter the new year with 10 motivational\u00a0quotes from our swimming stars. If anybody can motivate us college swimmers, it\u2019s these guys.<\/p>\n

10 Motivational\u00a0Quotes From Our Swimming Stars<\/h2>\n

1. \u201cIf there is a dream or a goal that you want you have to go for it 100%. Give all you have for the goals that you have.\u201d – Alia Atkinson<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Atkinson<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick<\/p><\/div>\n

Alia Atkinson became the first black female and Jamaican to earn a world title when she tied the world record at the 2014 FINA Short Course World Championships in Doha, Qatar<\/a>. The Jamaican clocked a 1:02.36 and became the new face of minority\u00a0swimming, alongside the likes of Cullen Jones and Lia Neal.<\/p>\n

2. \u201cSo many people along the way, whatever it is you aspire to do, will tell you it can\u2019t be done. But all it takes is imagination. You dream. You plan. You reach.\u201d – Michael Phelps<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"michael-phelps-interview-summer-nationals-2014\"<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott<\/p><\/div>\n

Although I don\u2019t really have to report the success of America\u2019s most decorated Olympic athlete, Phelps first appeared at the Games back in 2000 in Sydney, Australia at only 15 years of age. 14 years on, he has earned 22 Olympic medals: 18 gold, two silver, and two bronze; the most ever in Olympic\u00a0history<\/a>.<\/p>\n

3. \u201cI just felt like I can try to do something special.\u201d – Chad Le Clos<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"chad-le-clos-fina-world-cup-moscow-2014<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Maria Dobysheva<\/p><\/div>\n

The South African native is known to be the only swimmer to defeat the Olympic and World Champion, Michael Phelps, in the 200m butterfly. The Olympic, World, and Commonwealth Games Champion admitted that he\u2019d dreamed of beating Phelps as a kid. By doing so in London 2012, he proved that you should never put a limit on your dreams.<\/p>\n

4. \u201cSuccess isn\u2019t final, failure isn\u2019t fatal, it\u2019s courage that counts.\u201d – Alicia Coutts<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"alicia-coutts-pan-pacs-2014<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr<\/p><\/div>\n

After London 2012 the Australian superstar returned to her motherland with five gold medals, matching the tally of Ian Thorpe and Shane Gould. Coutts has won 21 medals for Australia in major championships during\u00a0the past four years. This success saw her awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for her service to sport in 2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n

5. \u201cIt\u2019s what you do with the rough patches that will define the athlete that you\u2019ll become.\u201d – Dana Vollmer<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Dana<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick<\/p><\/div>\n

Dana Vollmer left the London Olympics with three gold medals and new world records in the 100m butterfly (55.98) and the 400 medley relay. Vollmer is also the ambassador of the American Heart Association. Vollmer\u2019s previous experience with heart conditions certainly didn\u2019t stop her from becoming the world\u2019s fastest female flyer.<\/p>\n

6. \u201cIt\u2019s not who\u2019s put up the fastest time in the world that year, or who\u2019s put up the fastest time in the previous four years, but who can get their hand on the wall first today.\u201d – Nathan Adrian<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Nathan<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Mike Comer\/ProSwimVisuals.com<\/p><\/div>\n

Nathan Adrian is a three-time Olympic Gold medallist and currently holds the national records in the freestyle dash events. The nation\u2019s top sprinter clocked an incredible 47.52 at the London Olympics securing first place. Once his swimming career comes to an end, Adrian plans on continuing his hard work in the medical field by becoming a doctor.<\/p>\n

7. \u201cThere are younger, stronger swimmers coming up and they are hungry. I can’t influence what they do, I only know what I can do and I know how greedy I am to defend my title.\u201d – Kirsty Coventry<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Kirsty<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Pamela Roberts<\/p><\/div>\n

At the age of nine, Kirsty Coventry decided that she wanted to go to the Olympics. Today, she is known as Zimbabwe\u2019s most decorated athlete. During\u00a0her career, the former world record holder has earned seven\u00a0Olympic medals, as well as numerous titles at the Commonwealth and African Games.<\/p>\n

8. \u201cThe water doesn\u2019t know your age.\u201d – Dara Torres<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Torres<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick<\/p><\/div>\n

The five-time Olympic athlete is arguably the fastest female swimmer in the nation. By the time she turned 41 (yes, 41) Torres had collected 12 Olympic medals throughout her career, not to mention that she had given birth to her first child at age 39. Torres is the author of her memoir, \u201cAge is Just a Number: Achieve Your Dreams at Any Stage in Your Life,\u201d and is currently a motivational speaker.<\/p>\n

9. \u201cThere is no single way to train, or do anything well. You have to keep thinking, keep doing things.\u201d – Alexander Dale Oen<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"alexander-dale-oen\"<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Presse Sports-USA TODAY Sports<\/p><\/div>\n

Alexander Dale Oen was the face of swimming for Norway. Oen made a splash in swimming history at the Long Course European Championships in 2008 when he became the first Norwegian to medal at a major international meet. Oen tragically passed away in 2012 due to a sudden heart attack.<\/p>\n

10. \u201cHave fun, because that\u2019s what life is all about.\u201d – Ryan Lochte<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"ryan-lochte-summer-nationals-2014<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott<\/p><\/div>\n

We could definitely use the wise words of the nation\u2019s favorite dreamboat. Having claimed 11 Olympic medals and multiple\u00a0world records, he is considered to be one of the nation\u2019s best athletes and biggest heart throbs.<\/p>\n

Seren Jones is a junior butterfly\/backstroker from Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. The Metropolitan Conference individual champion grew up swimming for The City of Cardiff Swimming Club, and qualified for the Great Britain Olympic Trials in 2012.<\/em><\/p>\n