I Decided I Wasn't Going To Come

The Only Victory That Counts Is The One Over Yourself.

People Say That It Was Degrading For An Olympic Champion To Run Against A Horse, But What Was I Supposed To Do? I Had Four Gold Medals, But You Can't Eat Four Gold Medals. There Was No Television, No Big Advertising, No Endorsements Then. Not For A Black Man, Anyway.

People Come Out To See You Perform And You've Got To Give Them The Best You Have Within You.

I Wanted No Part Of Politics. And I Wasn't In Berlin To Compete Against Any One Athlete. The Purpose Of The Olympics, Anyway, Was To Do Your Best. As I'd Learned Long Ago From Charles Riley, The Only Victory That Counts Is The One Over Yourself.

If You Don't Try To Win You Might As Well Hold The Olympics In Somebody's Back Yard.