Sports quotes about confidence to help you shine

Like everything in life, sports careers have their ups and downs. Even the most decorated champ suffers their share of losses. If you find yourself in a slump, remember this: you’re capable and driven, and with the right attitude, your career will take you places.

We all need a pick-me-up from time to time. Is there a better source of inspiration than motivational quotes from the sports world’s heroes? Everyone experiences insecurity or self-doubt, but the most influential athletes to ever grace the track, court or field have plenty of wisdom to share about confidence. These sports quotes will help you keep your head up and continue believing in yourself on even the most off-day.

20 quotes to boost your confidence

Your favorite athletes are here to show you how to be confident when you’re feeling low. Take their words to heart, and then take them to social media to share the motivational love. Whether you’re an amateur athlete or a pro, you’re a role model for fans. The words you share may be the boost a follower needs to get them through a rough day of their own.

1. “You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.” – Michael Jordan
2. “One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.” – Arthur Ashe
3. “Today, you have 100% of your life left.” – Tom Landry
4. “Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you.” – Arnold Palmer
5. “Some people say I have attitude – maybe I do … but I think you have to. You have to believe in yourself when no one else does – that makes you a winner right there. ” – Venus Williams
6. “Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.” – Vince Lombardi
7. “If you don’t have confidence, you’ll always find a way not to win.” – Carl Lewis
8. “You can motivate by fear, and you can motivate by reward. But both those methods are only temporary. The only lasting thing is self-motivation.”– Homer Rice
9. “My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging.” – Hank Aaron
10. “If you can believe it, the mind can achieve it.” – Ronnie Lott
11. “Just keep going. Everybody gets better if they keep at it.” – Ted Williams
12. “To be a great champion, you must believe you are the best. If you’re not, pretend you are.” – Muhammad Ali
13. “Sports can do so much. It's given me confidence, self-esteem, discipline and motivation.” – Mia Hamm
14. “If you do not believe you can do it then you have no chance at all.” – Arsene Wenger
15. “I don’t believe you have to be better than everybody else. I believe you have to be better than you ever thought you could be.” – Ken Venturi
16. “I’ve always been a firm believer in mind over matter. If you don’t believe you can achieve it, your body will start to believe this and you’ll be stuck.” – Sheryl Swoopes
17. “You’re always going to survive the pain of loss. I can live with that confidence inside of me.” – Hope Solo
18. “The more matches I play, the more confident I get.” – Maria Sharapova
19. “Belief in oneself is incredibly infectious. It generates momentum, the collective force of which far outweighs any kernel of self-doubt that may creep in.” – Aimee Mullins
20. “You were born to be a player. You were meant to be here. This moment is yours.” – Herb Brooks

How to find confidence in yourself

We all have the capacity for confidence. Sometimes, that confidence just gets dampened by a setback or loss. We’ve shared some motivational quotes about sports, but the stories go far beyond the games these athletes play – many of these competitors have faced discrimination, physical injuries and tough days on the job. But they kept getting up and finding a way forward. They kept fighting.

When you need a win, try these tips for regaining focus:

• Get some sleep: Sleep isn’t just essential for physical health: it also helps your brain function properly. You do a lot of hard work as an athlete, and getting enough sleep can put some pep back in your step and ensure you’re regulating your emotions well.
• Remember your achievements: It’s tough to reflect on your wins when you’ve just had a loss, but those extraordinary achievements are part of the stellar record that’s gotten you where you are today. Remind yourself that more wins are yet to come and the low points don’t cancel out the high ones. If it helps, try journaling about your wins and achievements. You can look back on these notes later when you need a reminder of how far you’ve come.
• Don’t make comparisons: Everyone has different motivations, goals and abilities, so comparing yourself to someone else is an exercise in futility. What’s a success for you may not be for your teammate and vice versa. Don’t worry about how to break records unless they’re the records you’ve set for yourself.
• Focus on improving, not winning: Winning is nice, but it’s not everything. Outside factors can keep you from taking a medal even when you perform your best. This is even true for solo sports like running, where variables like the weather can impact the outcome. Peace of mind happens when you focus on improving your game and mental ability – the wins will come.
• Share your experience: You’re not alone. Use your social media accounts to find community and share wisdom, inspiration, achievements and struggles with friends, family and fans. Post feel-good stories about sportsmanship, or add a motivational sports quote to a caption or even your bio. Think of it as a kind of virtual teamwork – the words you share may just reach the person who needs them most.