I was diagnosed with asthma when I was 18 during my freshman year at UCLA. I refused to accept it - and I hid it from my coaches and teammates. But ignoring my problem didn't make it go away. Jackie Joyner-Kersee More Quotes by Jackie Joyner-Kersee More Quotes From Jackie Joyner-Kersee There are few restrictions on your life with asthma, as long as you take care of yourself. Jackie Joyner-Kersee restriction care long I don't have to be enemies with someone to be competitors with them. Jackie Joyner-Kersee competitors competition enemy Teaching kids about health and fitness is important to me. It's about being fit for life. Jackie Joyner-Kersee important teaching kids I always keep myself in a position of being a student. Jackie Joyner-Kersee position students opportunity I love track and field, but I also know the day will come when I will have to do something else. Jackie Joyner-Kersee track-and-field track fields Society always needs a level playing field. In order to do that, you have to have opportunity, and providing that opportunity begins with 'how do we bridge that gap,' that so-called Digital Divide? How can we get internet into every home possible? Jackie Joyner-Kersee bridges home opportunity People assuming that because I'm a great athlete, I can dance. But no. My rhythm is off a little bit. Jackie Joyner-Kersee dance athlete inspirational When I was in elementary school, we weren't allowed to do sports other than cheerleading. By junior high, they let us play, but we had to come back after 6:30 p.m. to practice because there was only one gymnasium and the boys used it first. Jackie Joyner-Kersee cheerleading sports school I'm always challenged by someone. Jackie Joyner-Kersee There is something about seeing myself improve that motivates and excites me. Jackie Joyner-Kersee seeing growth I'm more of a hands-on person. I like working with young people from the standpoint of providing support for the grassroots programs. State, national and Olympic champions begin at a grassroots level. Jackie Joyner-Kersee support hands people The greatest finish line for me was finishing college - it was a pact I made with my mother, during a time when she fell ill. That happened during my Freshman year, and unfortunately she never saw me compete in the Olympics. But she really wanted me to finish college, because she never finished Junior High. Jackie Joyner-Kersee college mother years Even if the person doesn't know what the internet can do, we can bring it to them and show how it can make a difference in their lives. Jackie Joyner-Kersee making-a-difference internet differences "Competing in both track and field and basketball for the Bruins I have a lot of great memories to choose from. But my all-time favorite moment in collegiate sports has to be in 1982 when we won UCLA's first NCAA title in track." Jackie Joyner-Kersee basketball inspirational sports Quality training is what I do now; before it was a combination of both quality and quantity. Now I'm not trying to be a world-class athlete, I don't need to train at that level. It's about being fit, fit for life. Jackie Joyner-Kersee training athlete class Getting started as a volunteer anywhere can be a challenge to a lot of people. The biggest hurdle is that people think they have to give all of their spare time. But if you only have a half hour, you can still make a difference. Assisting with small tasks is invaluable. Jackie Joyner-Kersee differences people thinking The person who talks a lot or talks over people misses out because they weren't listening. Jackie Joyner-Kersee missing listening people As you grow older and young people come up to you with their history books, you realize that some of the things I have been able to do have been impactful. But for me, I try to keep everything in perspective and stay humble. Jackie Joyner-Kersee humble book people When I started competing, you had to have your coach there. Now you can be coached from a home office via Skype or video. That's not the same as having them on the field with you. Jackie Joyner-Kersee video office home Even at 10 or 12, I was a hot, fast little cheerleader. Jackie Joyner-Kersee cheerleading hot littles
