In honor of the 2012 Olympic Games, I thought it would be nice to showcase a few inspirational quotes from female Olympians. Women first competed in the Olympics in 1900, and if you watch the games this year, you know that we’ve come a long way. At the last count of US medals, women had won more than men. Although I have to confess that as a non-athlete, I have respect for all of the amazing women who qualified for the Olympics, not just the medal winners.

 Quotes from former Olympians:

“Never put an age limit on your dreams.”
Dara Torres,  swimmer

Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made of. This is what we do. This is what it’s all about.
Patti Sue Plummer, long-distance runner

When I go out on the ice, I just think about my skating. I forget it is a competition.
Katarina Witt, figure skater

Some people say that I have an attitude – Maybe I do. But I think that you have to. You have to believe in yourself when no one else does – that makes you a winner right there.
Venus Williams, tennis player

Hard work has made it easy. That is my secret. That is why I win.
Nadia Comaneci, gymnast

Working hard becomes a habit, a serous kind of fun. You get self-satisfaction from pushing yourself to the limit, knowing that all the effort is going to pay off.
Mary Lou Retton, gymnast

The first thing is to love your sport. Never do it to please someone else. It has to be yours.
Peggy Fleming, figure skater

The medals don’t mean anything and the glory doesn’t last. It’s all about your happiness. The rewards are going to come, but my happiness is just loving the sport and having fun performing.
Jackie Joyner Kersee, track and field

Do you have a favorite quote from a female Olympian? Share it with us here!