When I ran the anchor leg to a gold medal with my Canadian teammates Glenroy Gilbert, Bruny Surin, and Robert Esmie in the 4x100-metre relay at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, it was my responsibility to motivate the guys as unofficial captain and leader.

Donovan Bailey

Categorized in : Teammates Gold Responsibility Leader

I think that every single person should play sports. by Donovan Bailey

I think that every single person should play sports.

play sports thinking

Follow your passion, be prepared to work hard and sacrifice, and, above all, don't let anyone limit your dreams.

passion hard-work dream

Every kid needs a mentor. Everybody needs a mentor. by Donovan Bailey

Every kid needs a mentor. Everybody needs a mentor.

athlete motivational kids

I love music, and a lot of it. Jazz is probably on the top with guys like Miles Davis. But I even enjoy music from the '60s and '70s.

jazz music-love guy

I want to give as many Canadians the opportunity to be successful and if we can use their athletic gifts to get them a free degree or a free diploma across the border then I guess I'm doing my job.

successful opportunity jobs

Im Jamaican, man. Im Jamaican first. You gotta understand thats where Im from. Thats home. That you can never take away from me. Im a Jamaican-born Canadian sprinter.

home men firsts

I'll have to say winning the Olympic gold in Atlanta is a crowning achievement, along with the gold in the relay in the same games.

atlanta games winning

Always educate yourself. by Donovan Bailey

Always educate yourself.

self-education educate education

I was working in corporate Canada and I was doing all right. But I was burnt out... Long hours, a lot of clients. I just wanted to get away. Track and field was sort of like the elimination thing. I just wanted to go and do something. Exercise my brain and my body and kind of gravitate to that.

track exercise long

In running, I can internalize that intensity. I can handle it because it's me and I'm coming back in the next race. I'm always ready for the next race.

next race running

You find sprinters testing other sprinters' mental capability. But these are my good friends on the track. I don't think we need to do that.

good-friend track thinking

A team sport is not very good for me, because I can't take losing... by Donovan Bailey

A team sport is not very good for me, because I can't take losing.

team losing sports

I'd like to be a more consistent starter. I'd like a smoother transition from crouching to running. I have to learn to relax during a race and how to breathe.

relax race running

I do a lot of media work, I've been investing and I'm involved with real estate. It's totally different from what I had been doing but I find it challenging and fun. To be honest, I really don't miss the track. I pretty well accomplished what I set out to do and it was time to move on.

real fun moving

You have to beat the king to be the king. No one is going to hand... by Donovan Bailey

You have to beat the king to be the king. No one is going to hand you a gold medal.

beat king you gold

With success always comes criticism. I've been criticized every y... by Donovan Bailey

With success always comes criticism. I've been criticized every year of my life.

my-life criticism success life

If you're open for praise, you have to be open to criticism. by Donovan Bailey

If you're open for praise, you have to be open to criticism.

open you criticism praise

Being surrounded with such positive people always helps. by Donovan Bailey

Being surrounded with such positive people always helps.

being always positive people

I'm a red meat lover. I eat carbs. I love carbs. by Donovan Bailey

I'm a red meat lover. I eat carbs. I love carbs.

eat red meat love

What I did at the start of each season, regardless if I was coming back as the champion, was run indoors and take forward steps from the first race.

back start champion race