The symbolic significance of individual athletes' achievements has sometimes proved more productive than the negotiations of diplomats or politicians.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
Sporting achievements bestow a sense of unification on the cultures and societies in which they take place and create an outpouring of nationalism and pride.
I would say that one of the hardest things for an athlete, and really anybody of any profession, is that we create our identity in what we do.
Many medal winners dream of competing in a sport other than the one they're famous for.
For athletes, the Olympics are the ultimate test of their worth.
As athletes, we're defined by what we've accomplished. Those are what most people remember and what you get paid for. But I learned more from my failures than from all of my successes put together - failures as an athlete and as a person.
I think being an athlete prepares you for more things than people give us credit for.
On television, I have watched countless athletes from different countries, sports and Olympics stand proudly at the top of the podium and shed tears. They symbolized the Olympics for me because Olympic medals represent all of the hard work and sacrifices made by the athletes as well as the people who helped them reach the top of their sports.
As an athlete, you figure you work your whole life to have what you have, and to be able to show the world what you have and how proud you are of it, that's always fun.
I think that in order to get better as an athlete and to see whatever kind of results you're after, you have to make goals. Whether you write them down or tell someone about them, it's important to set goals for yourself in order to achieve any kind of success.
Sportspersons have to reinvent themselves every day. It helps them improve.