14 powerful quotes from Asia’s elite athletes to spark the competitive spirit

“It takes a lot of work, and a lot of give and take. There were hard days where I couldn't do it and I used to be frustrated with myself as I didn’t understand why it was happening. It took me a while to say, ‘No, it’s okay. Today is just a day. It doesn’t mean that if I don’t perform today, I’m unable to perform when it matters.’ Perseverance is key to being able to overcome these challenges, and I think that’s one of my best qualities.”—Farah Ann Abdul Hadi, retired gymnast

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“Ultimately, we need to understand that the Olympics are the hardest and most challenging events that any athlete can encounter. It is not an easy task, and just qualifying for it is a huge achievement and honour on its own. The next step is for the athletes to bring their A-game on the day. The more positive support that they get from the rest of the country, the more they know they deserve a spot in that arena, representing Malaysia in the toughest athletic battle out there.”—Nicol Ann David, sport administrator and retired squash player

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“Often, you struggle alone because the only ones who can relate are your inner circle of coaches and teammates. Those outside may not understand the extent of the challenges and pressure during training sessions and competitions.”—Pandelela Rinong, diver

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“This is so significant for me, that I was able to prove that we women can do this. Kaya ng Filipina, kaya ng Filipino [The Filipina can, the Filipino can]. I am so proud to be a woman, to show that women are not just capable of being at home, that we are proficient in sports, that we can succeed in anything—while wearing lipstick too!”—Hidilyn Diaz, weightlifter

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“Filipina athletes deserve to be seen, but they are not. When I was covered by the media, it wasn’t amazing because I won a bronze. It was amazing because I won a bronze medal, and because I’m working and a woman. Do I have to be so many things? Can’t I just win a bronze? Women are expected to do many things and play many roles before people say they’re really good.”—Erica Samonte, karateka

“I truly believe that sports is a wonderful tool for personality development and nation-building. We can develop leaders that display the traits of respect, fair play, and friendship... that know-how to value hard work in the different processes. These are what sports teaches us: excellence, in other words.”—Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski, sport administrator and equestrienne

“Athletes are hardwired to want to be able to control the situation, and that’s impossible because in life you can’t really control anything.”—Joseph Schooling, retired swimmer

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“As a competitive athlete, if you do not progress, it means you are regressing. And for us, there is still plenty of room for improvement.”—Chi Kai Lee, gymnast

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“Training pushes the body’s limits. The moment you exert all your strength is the most painful, feeling like the body isn’t yours, but that’s the price of success.”—Eddie Wang, swimmer

“It’s exciting to see women’s sports on the rise, but female golfers face the responsibility and pressure to perform exceptionally well to gain recognition in a male-dominated sports world. Many outstanding female golfers on the LPGA Tour don’t receive enough recognition due to insufficient media coverage and public awareness.”—Rose Zhang, golfer

“Our minds just need as much training as your body does, whether you hope to perform or simply get through your daily [life]. To be able to self-love the way you deserve is to build resilience for any circumstances you might face.”—Stephanie Au, swimmer

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“It took me a while to understand that my value and identity were linked to what I learnt from competing rather than my race times. As an athlete, not tying my identity to my performances was quite challenging, as we’re all mostly perceived through the numbers of medals we collect or the times we hit.”—Camille Cheng, swimmer

“[M]oments like this, where I get to inspire the next generation, are very empowering. It feels like I’m just swimming up and down the pool every day, but I don’t realise the impact and positive influence I can have on other people. For the longest time, swimming was just about me chasing my personal goals. But now it carries an additional meaning. Even if I only make a positive impact on just one person, I am still contributing to a small change in our society, and that, to me, is truly empowering.”—Siobhan Haughey, swimmer

Read Siobhan Haughey’s full profile on Asia’s Most Influential

Tatler Asia’s Most Influential is the definitive list of people shaping our world today. Asia’s Most Influential brings together the region's most innovative changemakers, industry titans and thought leaders who are driving positive impact in Asia and beyond. View the full list here.

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