Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith Quotes

I have been struggling after the Olympics. I didn't want to continue my season. But I did. It’s not always about winning, it's about not giving up, about giving your best every day, every time you pursue your dreams.

Rio gave me self-confidence, experience and motivation to return to training and work hard.

I am just here trying to beat my personal best, and the rest will come.

I wake up every morning and I am in good health, so I’m not going to complain about money.

I want to leave a big legacy. Not only for Ivorian girls, but for all African girls. I want to show that they can do something big if they believe in themselves.

And the next day you see me smiling, you don't know what I'm going through because I tell myself, ‘People have other bigger problems than me.

Young people sometimes like an easy life. But there are two things. Either you just want to do athletics or you want to leave a legacy. If you want to leave a legacy, you have to make sacrifices in your life.

It gives me so much confidence. I didn’t know that doing what I’m doing could be an example for other people. You don’t need much to become a star.

When I started, my mother didn't want me to do it.

I am trying to think of me a lot this year, take care of myself and enjoy the moment…So one more race in New York and then I am off finally for honeymoon.

And people around me said, 'You are from Africa, I don't think you will become someone. I want you to continue your studies, to work in an office'. But I felt it, because I like to run so much. This is my way.

My results at the 2012 African Championships had made me realise that I had the potential to become an elite sprinter. Things did not work out for me [at the University] and I decided to return to Cote d'Ivoire.

Even if someone say, ‘you will not make it!’, just show them that you can make it because life is not about always giving up. It's about working hard, sacrifice, and making yourself available to push your body to achieve your dreams.

It’s nice to see people who want to take a picture with me, who want to become like me. But I tell them they should not want to become like me, rather greater than me.

I have been [through] ups and downs in my career, but this year has been harder because I hard to work really hard to be here.