Carl Lewis Quotes & Sayings

'm so fortunate to have done what I love to do for so long, but the day I retired was one of the best days of my life. Not because I was happy to get away from the sport, but because it was clear in my mind that I had done all I possibly could, and that it was time to go. — Carl Lewis

The best kids are going to become the best. But the best thing about it is that you're going to learn lessons in playing those sports about winning and losing and teamwork and teammates and arguments and everything else that are going to affect you positively for the rest of your life. — Carl Lewis

There is no correlation between a childhood success and a professional athlete. — Carl Lewis

I'm not Carl Lewis the athlete any more. I'm growing into a new person with new interests and new goals. — Carl Lewis

I don't intend to stay around any longer than I feel I can be No. 1. — Carl Lewis

Most people want to become movie stars and I just want to be in the business. I already was a star. If I get the part of a lifetime and it blows up, then that's wonderful. But if the acting doesn't work, fine. I'll just be a producer. And if the producing doesn't work, fine. I've got a lot of other stuff. — Carl Lewis

Seriously, some Americans just shouldn't leave the country. — Carl Lewis

At the end of the day, if you're a professional athlete in track and field you are the CEO of your company. — Carl Lewis

After I left the podium in Atlanta, I felt so fulfilled in my career that I lost my desire to compete at that level again. — Carl Lewis

If you don't have confidence, you'll always find a way not to win. — Carl Lewis

We cannot rest until we make sure that our families can afford to live and raise their kids here, that our seniors can remain in their homes and afford their health and pharmaceutical costs. — Carl Lewis

My life isn't interesting! It's my mom. You need to write her life and put me in it. I'm a cameo in her life. — Carl Lewis

An athlete and actor are really two different temperaments, night and day. As an athlete you really keep things out and as an actor you really bring things in. — Carl Lewis

I'm not a coach and I know it. I'm too busy and it doesn't pay. I'm expensive. But I would always advise. — Carl Lewis

Scientists have proven that it's impossible to long-jump 30 feet, but I don't listen to that kind of talk. Thoughts like that have a way of sinking into your feet. — Carl Lewis

To this day, most people think of me as the fastest human. They don't really think me as a long jumper, although that's the event I had more success in. — Carl Lewis

People have a moral standard about what they will do and will not do. At the end of the day someone who cheats has a lower moral standard than someone who does not. And they will cheat in other areas of life as well. — Carl Lewis

I want to be a millionaire, and I don't ever want a real job. — Carl Lewis

It's all about the journey, not the outcome. — Carl Lewis

You're not going to get a chance to vote for me on the ballot, but you can actually vote for what I believe in. — Carl Lewis

Whether I'm 40, 50 or 60, I'm going to be as physically strong as I am able. — Carl Lewis

The people are fed up with their elected officials playing the blame game and treating their political counterparts as enemies. — Carl Lewis

You can't live your life through your children. — Carl Lewis

By carrying the torch, you will be bridging cultural and social barriers, and all the boundaries that separate nation from nation, — Carl Lewis

Channel your energy. Focus. — Carl Lewis

My best performances were when I was 30 years old, and I was a vegan. — Carl Lewis

I work with the Carl Lewis Foundation focusing on youth from high school down. — Carl Lewis

When I decided to go for four gold medals I planned it out over a few years. It was in four different events and there was a lot to it. — Carl Lewis

I know there are a lot of people out there who have the best intentions but not the voice, so it's about people like me to give them a voice and hear their ideas. — Carl Lewis

I never competed against athletes. I competed against perfection. — Carl Lewis

I tell you, it was kind of two-fold. I fortunately had a lot of support. My coach was amazing - he told me to focus on being prepared and that is what I did. Every athlete is nervous - any athlete who tells you they're not nervous isn't telling you the truth. I was as prepared as I could be. — Carl Lewis

Our message of the day is service does not need a title. — Carl Lewis

If you go by other people's opinions or predictions,
you'll just end up talking yourself out of something.
If you're running down the track of life thinking that
it's impossible to break life's records,
those thoughts have a funny way of sinking into your feet. — Carl Lewis

I'm not running for state Senate because I wanted to become a politician. I'm running because I wanted to serve. — Carl Lewis

Amateurism is the strongest form of discrimination in sports. Because it discriminates against the underprivileged, it discriminates against the poor. If we want sports to go back to the wealthy, let's make it amateur again. — Carl Lewis

Countries like Jamaica do not have a random program, so they can go months without being tested. I'm not saying anyone is on anything, but everyone needs to be on a level playing field. — Carl Lewis

I don't feel I'm qualified to be a coach outside the high school level. I think I would need to do more education to really be a good coach. — Carl Lewis

I enjoy my life, I love track, I'm set for life financially. — Carl Lewis

Why do we have 47 million people without health care? Because America has become about 'me'. What's happened to 'we' as a people? I believe in that and that resonates to most people. — Carl Lewis

My best year of track competition was the first year I ate a vegan diet. — Carl Lewis

My thoughts before a big race are usually pretty simple. I tell myself: Get out of the blocks, run your race, stay relaxed. If you run your race, you'll win ... channel your energy. Focus. — Carl Lewis

I wouldn't be surprised if one day Carl's halo slipped and choked him. — Carl Lewis

I always wanted to be wealthy. I did. — Carl Lewis

I found the emotion that as an athlete you block out, and it really helped me to understand myself as a person. I'm a really emotional person and it helped make me a better person. — Carl Lewis

Join me in the final race to smash poverty and achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals — Carl Lewis

I always separated sports and my personal life. — Carl Lewis

I like the pressure of having to perform so people will come to me. — Carl Lewis

Track and field is the best way to reach out for kids. It doesn't matter how fast you are. You always want to beat someone. — Carl Lewis

When I run - as you see from my record - I run to win. — Carl Lewis

I'm a fast learner. I may not run as fast as I used to, but I think I still learn as fast. — Carl Lewis

I'm a businessman and actor and I still make appearances. — Carl Lewis

The trials on the road to world harmony are no greater than the courage of those who accept the challenge. — Carl Lewis

People have always thought of me as being something, but I'm just a human being like everyone else. — Carl Lewis

When I run - you can see my record - I run to win. — Carl Lewis

Any press is good press. So keep on ragging me. — Carl Lewis

I'm very serious about becoming a dramatic actor. I don't want to play cameo parts walking on as Carl Lewis the athlete. I want to go on stage or screen and be taken seriously. — Carl Lewis

I have no intention of lingering through a season, just to have a chance to be an alternate on a relay. I don't want that. — Carl Lewis

I'm not supposed to be able to speak clearly, and decipher what's going on in the media. I'm supposed to be the typical amateur who's 22 and scared to death and can't believe he won the Olympics. — Carl Lewis

Life is about timing. — Carl Lewis

You have to free your mind to do things you wouldn't think of doing. Don't ever say no. — Carl Lewis