i had a series of childhood illnesses... scarlet fever.... pneumonia.... Polio. I walked with braces until I was at least nine years old. My life wasn't like the average person who grew up and decided to enter the world of sports.

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Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose.

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I loved the feeling of freedom in running, the fresh air, the feeling that the only person I'm competing with is me.

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The potential for greatness lives within us all.

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But when you come from a large, wonderful family, there's always a way to achieve your goals.

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I don't consciously try to be a role model, so I don't know if I am or not. That's for other people to decide.

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Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.

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My doctor told me I would never walk again. My mother told me I would. I believed my mother.

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It doesn't matter what you're trying to accomplish. It's all a matter of discipline. I was determined to discover what life held for me beyond the inner-city streets.

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I believe in me more than anything in this world.

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