#be

I have this burning desire to get out there and do my best. It's as if I'm keeping it all in a little bottle, and it's all going to come out when I do the best I'm capable of doing. ↗

— Jackie Joyner-Kersee

#bottle #burning #burning desire #capable #come

I learned to listen and listen very well. It helped me athletically and in the classroom as well. The person who talks a lot or talks over people misses out because they weren't listening. ↗

— Jackie Joyner-Kersee

#classroom #helped #i #learned #listen

Some people are embarrassed to say they came from East St. Louis, Ill., but now more people want to claim it. I grew up in a community center and I knew what it gave me. I always knew I wanted to give back and help people because people helped me. ↗

— Jackie Joyner-Kersee

#back #because #came #center #claim

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

#champions #grassroots #hands-on #i #level

It wasn't until I was 14 and watched the 1976 Olympic games on television that I really started to dream about the big time. I remember seeing Evelyn Ashford in the 100 meters, and she was going to UCLA. ↗

— Jackie Joyner-Kersee

#big #big time #dream #games #going

There are many women who came before me who didn't really have the same opportunities that I have had. That's why I always wanted to be a great ambassador - not only today's generation - but for the women who really didn't have a voice, but who paved the way for me. ↗

— Jackie Joyner-Kersee

#ambassador #before #came #generation #great

It's important to me to try and expose young people to the things they believe are off-limits to them. I tell them, 'There are no walls, only the ones we put up.' My advice to young people looking at my life is not to follow my footprint but to go out there and make their own. ↗

— Jackie Joyner-Kersee

#believe #expose #follow #footprint #go

My denial and irresponsible attitude about asthma put me at great risk and caused me so much needless suffering. My hope is that the kids I talk to learn to open up about their asthma, become educated about their condition, and seek help. ↗

— Jackie Joyner-Kersee

#asthma #attitude #become #caused #condition

My passion for giving is no different than yours. I give because it's in my heart to give. I give because I was taught to give at a very early age. This is how I developed my passion for giving. ↗

— Jackie Joyner-Kersee

#because #developed #different #early #early age

People assume that because I'm a great athlete, I can dance. But no. My rhythm is off a little bit. ↗

— Jackie Joyner-Kersee

#athlete #because #bit #dance #great