66 Quotes from Athletes Encouraging Not Giving Up on Your Goals | Sports Quotes Gallery and Quote Image Maker

When we decide not to give up on our path to achievement, we can reap rewards. You should never quit. There’s always a reason to push a little bit harder toward your objective. Do not turn down your dreams. You can receive the benefit of accomplishing anything if you start following and never give up in your current circumstances.

Sportsmen and women have always been a source of inspiration for all of us. Many of us appreciate them because they never give up. Sports teach us not to give up even when we lose since the next victory is always just around the corner.

In this post, we’ve gathered some very motivating quotes from world-famous athletes about not giving up on your dreams and the route you’ve traveled to get there. These are the ultimate “never give up” quotes that will inspire and uplift you.

Also See: Motivational Sports Quotes About Overcoming Obstacles

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Top 10 sports quotes about never Giving up: 

Chasing your dreams requires persistent effort and a positive attitude. 

As athletes like Tom Brady and Antetokounmpo have stated in their quotes below, no matter the circumstances, we must always give our best efforts. Legendary football player Jerry Rice also espoused the same mindset. According to Rice, if one is determined to put in the work, they don’t need shortcuts to succeed. Michael Jordan and Larry Bird have always been sources of inspiration for many athletes, and their quotes below provide the same level of inspiration. Jordan, during his playing days, turned most adverse situations to his favor with his positive mindset. Both these players, in their quotes below, convey the message that even if you encounter roadblocks or hurdles, you must find ways to overcome them and continue chasing your ultimate goals.

1. “No matter the circumstances, you always try your best and you never give up, because that’s what you do when you’re chasing your dream.” – Tom Brady, American football player.
   
2. “I think my secret is that there’s no shortcuts for hard work, determination, and having that don’t give up attitude.” – Jerry Rice, former American football player.
3. “Persistent in life? I think yes. I am. I’m going to do something until I get it right. I never give up.” – Giannis Antetokounmpo, basketball player.
4. “If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan, former American basketball player.
5. “Push yourself again and again. Don’t give an inch until the final buzzer sounds.” – Larry Bird, former American basketball player.
6. “You just can’t beat the person who never gives up.” – Babe Ruth, former baseball player.
7. “I’m not going to give up my title without a big fight tomorrow. I look forward to every minute tomorrow.”– Russell Knox, professional golfer.
8. “I’m never gonna give up. Obviously, it’s a little disappointing [loss], but you forget about it and you think about what’s ahead of you.” – Mark Philippoussis, tennis player.
9. “I’m not someone that going to give up. I am sure I’m going to be in the final again. I will try my best to win it. I’m not sure, but I know I will do my best.” – Ons Jabeur, Tunisian tennis player.
10. “Keep working, keep trying, get involved in the convention, meet as many people as you can, and don’t ever give up.” – Sebastian Korda, tennis player.

Staying focused on the course is of utmost importance.

Whether you’re involved in a team sport or you’re pursuing an individual sport, as Ronaldo mentioned in his quote below, staying focused on the next task is crucial, and doing so collectively by motivating others is essential. Ronaldo, with his fierce playing style and intense work ethic, not only inspires sports fans but also motivates his teammates.

One of the soccer greats, Pele, in his quote below, has conveyed an inspiring message about not giving up on your sport or passion, especially in those moments when it feels like not everything is going as planned. Most often, things don’t unfold as intended, but as Pele said, we must continue to press forward.

1. “Never give up, always stay focused on the next step, All together.” – Cristiano Ronaldo, Portuguese soccer player.
2. “Never stop dreaming. Never give up when you fail. Work hard to achieve your goal.” – Robert Lewandowski, Polish soccer player.
3. “Sometimes it pays to never give up – even when you think all is lost.” – Pelé, Brazilian former soccer player.
4. “My challenges are big, but my shoulders are broad enough to carry the load and I have the psychological capacity to handle it. I never give up.”– Karim Benzema, French soccer  player.
   
5. “If you have someone with a dream, if you have a motivated person with a goal and a vision, if you have someone that never gives up, who has great hope, anything can happen.” – Jim Valvano, former basketball player.

The beginnings of an athletic journey are always tough, but we must focus on the end goal. 

David Beckham, in his brief quote below, addresses the beginning of an athlete’s journey. This period is the most crucial in an athlete’s life and also presents various challenges. Beckham’s words stem from experiences of similar nature. Like Beckham, most successful players did not shy away from these initial difficulties, which ultimately propelled them further in their careers. Novak Djokovic’s quote echoes the same sentiment expressed by Beckham. According to Djokovic, decision-making during the initial phase of one’s career is paramount. Nevertheless, one should always make decisions that propel them forward in their career. He emphasized the importance of backing oneself and one’s decisions during this career phase and trusting in one’s abilities.

1. “Do not give up. The beginning is always the hardest.” – David Beckham, English soccer player.
2. “My parents weren’t rich enough to help me or buy soccer boots, or bring me somewhere where I could practice football. But, I would never give up. I always follow my dreams until I find success.” – Sadio Mané, professional soccer player.
3. “Advice I can give to the younger person is to never give up on their dreams, to follow their intuition and when you are young some decisions can change the course of your life.” – Novak Djokovic, Tennis player.
4. “When you do something best in life, you don’t really want to give that up, and for me it’s tennis.” – Roger Federer, Tennis player.

Maintaining intensity during adverse situations in a game is crucial. 

Rod Laver’s quote below offers a valuable insight into the legendary athlete’s mindset and provides great words of advice. As a tennis player, Laver understands that when a tennis player gains a competitive edge over their opponent, it is easy to become complacent and lose momentum. Laver advises never to drop the intensity, regardless of your position in the game. One of the distinct aspects of playing a sport, unlike other areas of life, is that an athlete always starts from zero in every game. Their performance and statistics have no bearing on the next game. Tiger Woods, in his quotes, sheds light on this very fact. As Woods mentioned in his quote, for an athlete, every next game is a new day and a fresh start.

1. “My greatest point is my persistence. I never give up in a match. However down I am, I fight until the last ball.” – Björn Borg, tennis player.
2. “The time your game is most vulnerable is when you’re ahead, never let up.” – Rod Laver, tennis player.
3. “My parents taught me to never give up. My drive, my work ethic, will always equate to success. It’s this resilience, which makes me the player I am today.” – Alexander Zverev, tennis player.
4. “Never give up. Always chase after your dreams. Each and every day presents its own different challenges for all of us. Wake up and start the fight all over again.” – Tiger Woods, professional golfer.
5. “Giving up is the easiest thing in the world. That’s why so many people do it.” – Mike Tyson, former professional boxer.

All that should matter the most for an athlete is chasing their goals.

In the world of competitive swimming, one pro swimmer whose name will remain in the history books is American swimmer Michael Phelps. In his quote, Phelps talks about the importance of believing in your vision and following it to the tee. Another great that the world has witnessed, and who has influenced current and future generations, was basketball player Kobe Bryant. Bryant has not only motivated so many young basketball players through his game but also through his words. His quote below reflects the same sentiment. Bryant’s quote tells us the importance of not letting go of what you have worked on so far. Once you do that, you are actually giving an opportunity for others to take your place and eventually win the final race. So it’s important to hold onto your position, whatever the situation may be.

1. “If you give up now, you’ll never know what was on the other side, the breakthrough that was about to happen. Keep pushing through the resistance.” – Tim Tebow, American football player.
2. “Never give up on something you truly wanted. If your dream is true, you can do everything to make it a reality.” – Michael Phelps, American swimmer.
3. “Don’t give up! Be friends with people who help you work hard.” – Magic Johnson, basketball player.
4. “The moment you give up, is the moment you let someone else win.” – Kobe Bryant, basketball player.
5. “At the end of the day, anything is possible. You never give up; you always keep believing even when it looks almost impossible.” – Max Verstappen, racing driver.
6. “We have to make the most of it, cherish every moment, be kind to yourself and others. Don’t give up hope, don’t give up on yourself, push through it.” – Lewis Hamilton,  racing driver.

The innate nature of an athlete is to fight till the end.

Basketball player Russell Westbrook’s quote below is packed with powerful words, revealing the mindset of an athlete and how they approach adverse situations. One key characteristic of athletes that inspires sporting fans is their fighting spirit. Athletes like Westbrook never accept failure until the final buzzer sounds, no matter the situation. As Russell mentioned, one should always give their 100%, and even if results don’t go in your favor, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you gave your best effort.

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt’s quote below also delivers an inspiring message, discussing the difference between talent and skills. According to Bolt, for an athlete, easy is not an option when striving for great success. Shortcuts or taking the easy path may bring success, but it will be short-lived. Persistent work and continuous effort go a long way and remain with you for life.

1. “I’m not a quitter, it’s not in my genes. I don’t quit regardless of what the hell is going on. I’m gonna fight to the end and then if it doesn’t work that’s cool too. I can live with the results but I’m never going to give up or give in because of a little struggle that’s happening.” – Russell Westbrook, basketball player.
2. “There will be tough times in life but you should never give up. In tough times tough people last.”– Sachin Tendulkar, cricket player.
3. “Never give up on something you meant to do.” – Sergio Ramos, soccer player.
   
4. “Warriors never give up.” – Marcelo Vieira, soccer player.
5. “Never Give Up. Don’t Back Down. Keep Hustling!” – Virat Kohli, cricket player.
6. “Easy is not an option. No days off. Never quit, be fearless. Talent you have naturally. Skill is only developed by hours and hours of work.” – Usain Bolt,  Jamaican sprinter.
7. “Resolve never to quit, never to give up, no matter what the situation.” – Jack Nicklaus, professional golfer.
8. “We were taught to give it everything we had until it was over. Never give less than one hundred percent.” – Walter Payton, American football player.
9. “No matter what you are, what position you have in life – very high level to lowest social level, always have a goal, much strength, determination and always do everything with love and faith in god. One day you get there, somehow you get there” – Ayrton Senna, motorsports racing driver.
10. “Never give up; just absolutely never give up.”– Shane Warne, cricket player.

To be an athlete, one should always embrace a mindset of optimism. 

Famous motor racer Michael Schumacher’s quote reflects his optimistic mindset. According to Schumacher, one should be resilient in their pursuits, even in situations with the slimmest of chances, one should strive to give their best. Nico Rosberg, another motor racer, also echoes the same mentality as Schumacher, as evident from his words in the following quote. For Rosberg, results are not secondary; he is committed to continuous growth.

1. “I’ve always believed that you should never, ever give up and you should always keep fighting even when there’s only a slightest chance.” – Michael Schumacher, former racing driver.
2. “You can just never give up in this sport. That’s one thing that this team has always prided themselves on and I’m very thankful for that.” – Jimmie Johnson, professional racing driver.
3. “I never give up, so if I’d finished second I would have gone for another year, for sure. Definitely.” – Nico Rosberg,  former racing driver.
4. “Let me tell you something, never, ever give up your dream.” – Valtteri Bottas, Finnish racing driver.
5. “Never be afraid of failure. Stay at it. You will succeed, eventually. Never give up.”– Kurt Angle, professional wrestler.
6. “Blood, sweat, and respect. First two you give, last one you earn.” – Dwayne Johnson, professional wrestler.
7. “Adapt. Overcome. Never give up.” – John Cena, professional wrestler.

Quotes About Perseverance From Women Athletes

In this section of the post, we will examine some sports quotes from renowned female athletes that address the importance of persevering through your athletic journey and not giving up on your process and goals.

The quotes by female athletes such as Serena Williams, Ashleigh Barty, and Caroline Wozniacki below share a common message of keeping faith in one’s ability and vision, and continuing to pursue your endeavors until you reach the finish line. Ashleigh Barty’s message below is not only inspiring but also emphasizes the importance of perseverance. Sports teach us so many valuable life lessons, and trying and putting forth your best effort until the end is one of them. This thought can also be traced in tennis player Maria Sharapova’s quote.

1. “You just have faith. If you believe in yourself, you just continue to fight and never give up.” – Serena Williams, tennis player.
2. “Just never give up. Honestly you have to be in the fight to have a chance. It’s about trying to just chip away over and over.” – Ashleigh Barty, tennis player.
3. “I know what I’m capable of, and this doesn’t surprise me because I know that I’m a really good fighter. I never give up, even through adversity.”– Bianca Andreescu, tennis player.
4. “Don’t give up on your bad days.” – Simone Biles, artistic gymnast.
5. “Life is full of setbacks, both on and off the court, and tennis taught me the importance of never giving up.” – Maria Sharapova, tennis player.
6. “I never give up. Doesn’t matter what the score is.” – Caroline Wozniacki, tennis player.
7. “Never give up, never give in, and when the upper hand is ours, may we have the ability to handle the win with the dignity that we absorbed the loss.” – Mary Kom, amateur boxer.

Maintaining balance and optimism amidst the highs and lows of games is the true mark of an athlete’s character.

Victoria Azarenka’s quote, “A tide can turn anytime,” suggests that in both life and sports, nothing remains permanent, not even failure. Athletes who persistently exert effort can always find themselves capable of altering the circumstances before them. Similarly, soccer player Mia Hamm’s quote emphasizes the transient nature of struggles and obstacles. These challenges constitute a part of an athlete’s journey towards achieving greater goals. As Hamm advises, one should not perceive these obstacles as permanent. There will be instances where individuals surpass their own expectations by assimilating lessons from such hurdles.

1. “She’s [an opponent] a very tough opponent. I’m trying to fight, to keep fighting until the end and never give up,” – Simona Halep, tennis player.
2. “Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” – Victoria Azarenka,  tennis player.
3. “Never giving up makes a person unbeatable!” – Jwala Gutta,  badminton player.
4. “There are games I’m going to dominate and there are going to be games when I struggle. But it doesn’t mean I give up.” – Mia Hamm, soccer player.
5. “Once you start caring about people’s opinions of you, you give up control.” – Ronda Rousey, professional wrestler.
6. “I will never give up. On anything.” – Paige VanZant, MMA.
7. “Perseverance is critical. I achieved whatever success I achieved because I was unwilling to stop.”  – Nadia Comăneci, Olympic gold medalist gymnast.
8. “I think the biggest challenge for me now is just to be as open as possible, because I hope that maybe one day a little girl can hear my story and be inspired to keep going, to never give up.” – Chloe Kim, American snowboarder.
9. “Never give up, you don’t know who you can inspire.” – Serena Williams, tennis player.
10. “Take those chances and you can achieve greatness, whereas if you go conservative, you’ll never know.” – Danica Patrick, race car driver.
11. “This is my motivation. Never give up and keep fighting for your dreams! Nothing is impossible.” – Lindsey Vonn, alpine ski racer.
12. “Always work hard, never give up, and fight until the end because it’s never really over until the whistle blows.” – Alex Morgan, soccer player.
    

We hope these inspiring quotes by these inspirational sports figures have cheered you up and also helped you learn more about the athletic mindset and skills required to develop it. Please feel free to share this with your friends and family on your preferred social media platform. Use the buttons below to share it right away.

Also See:

Uplifting Sports Quotes On Overcoming Adversity

Tags: Motivational Quotes

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Oleg Dubyna from Poltava, Ukraine, CC BY–SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons