It is not necessary to smile and make a wonderful impression on the judges. Emil Zatopek More Quotes by Emil Zatopek More Quotes From Emil Zatopek One day the factory sports coach, who was very strict, pointed at four boys, including me, and ordered us to run in a race. I protested that I was weak and not fit to run, but the coach sent me for a physical examination and the doctor said that I was perfectly well. So I had to run, and when I got started I felt I wanted to win. But I only came in second. That was the way it started. Emil Zatopek winningrunningsports When I was young, I was too slow. I thought I must learn to run fast by practicing to run fast, so I ran 100 meters fast 20 times. Then I came back, slow,slow,slow. People said, 'Emil, you are crazy. You are training like a sprinter.' Emil Zatopek crazyrunningpeople Everyone said, 'Emil, you are a fool!' Emil Zatopek foolgeniusfirsts The athlete of today is not an athlete alone. He's the center of a team - doctors, scientists, coaches, agents and so on. Emil Zatopek doctorsteamathlete Is it raining? That doesn't matter. Am I tired? That doesn't matter, either. Then willpower will be no problem. Emil Zatopek tiredmatterrain My running was very simple; it was out of myself. Emil Zatopek simplerunning We are different, in essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon. Emil Zatopek winyouexperiencemen I had started as an average athlete - a normal boy. It took me three years to win a race. I was glad that I endured those three years - that I did not give up. Emil Zatopek boywinmerace I'm not interested in how long I can hold out, but in how fast I can reach the finishing line. Emil Zatopek reachnot-interestedi-canlong A runner must run with dreams in his heart, not money in his pocket. Emil Zatopek dreamsmoneyfitnessheart The childhood games ended for me when I was 14 and I finished school. I had to find a job, not an easy thing in those days. Emil Zatopek jobmechildhoodschool I didn't know much. It wasn't possible to buy a book about Nurmi, but I found out that in order to be faster over 10,000m, he ran 5,000m many times in training. And to be better at 5,000m, he ran 1,500m many times. And to be better at 1,500m, he ran four times 400m in training. Emil Zatopek betterknowtrainingbook You must be fast enough - you must have endurance. So you run fast for speed and repeat it many times for endurance. Emil Zatopek youendurancespeedenough I will run with perfect style when they start judging races for their beauty, like figure-skating. For now, I just want to run as fast as possible. Emil Zatopek startstyleperfectbeauty If I run 100 meters 30 times, that is 3 kilometers and no longer a sprint. Emil Zatopek longertimesrunsprint Sometimes I feel that old desire. Then my body tells me it is 50 years old. I take the easy way instead. Emil Zatopek feelmesometimesway In my country, I am just a common man... a nobody. Emil Zatopek nobodyi-ammancountry
