20 Great Quotes From...Athletics: Part One

Barney Corkhill's Great Quotes series moves from cricket to athletics. In this series I will be looking at some of the very best quotes to have been uttered in various sports.

The quotes aren't just from players, coaches and commentators, but anyone who has ever said a good quote to do with the chosen sport! Some are intentional, some aren't, I'll leave you to make your own mind up!

So, without further ado, lets look at the first 20 great quotes from athletics! Enjoy!

"Ian Mackie is here to prove his back injury is behind him" - Anon

"I just want to get back to the shape I'm in now" - Jamie Baulch

"What will my country give me if I win 100 metres gold in Sydney? Tobago probably" - Ato Boldon, Trinidad and Tobago sprinter

"She hasn't run faster than herself before" - Zola Budd

"Is there something that sticks out that makes you an exceptional pole vaulter?" - Adrian Chiles

"I became a great runner because if you're a kid in Leeds and your name is Sebastian, you've got to become a great runner" - Sebastian Coe

"From what I understand, these drugs shrink your nuts. I can't have my thingy shrunk. I can't afford that!" - Kim Collins on why he would never take banned drugs

"I wasn't a very athletic boy. I was once lapped in the long jump" - Ronnie Corbett

"For Linford Christie to get the job he'll have to prove whiter than white" - Victoria Derbyshire*

"And finally she tastes the sweet smell of success" - Ian Edwards

"The Kenyans haven't done much in the last two Games. In fact, they haven't competed since 1972" - Brendan Foster

"I don't really understand miles - I didn't actually know how far it was going to be" - Jade Goody, failing to complete the 2006 London marathon

"Born in America, John returned to his native Japan" - Mike Gratton

"You have to be suspicious when you line up against girls with moustaches" - Maree Holland

"If Diane Modahl was 40 times over the testosterone limit, she'd have a deep voice and we'd all be calling her Barry White" - Tony Jarrett on the Modahl drug allegations

"When you go into an indoor championships like this, it's different to the outdoors" - Max Jones

"Derek, tell us about your amazing third leg" - Ross King to relay runner Derek Redmond

"Ben Johnson must still be the fastest human in the world. He served a lifetime sentence in only two years" - Mike Littwin after Johnson's life ban was listed after two years

"This is a double disaster, because the last thing anyone wants to see is Irina Korzhanenko stripped" - Gavin McDougald after the Russian shot putter was stripped of her Olympic gold medal

"She's really tough; she's remorseful" - David Moorcroft

* = Barney's quote of the day

So there you have your next 20 Great Quotes from cricket! Tune in again tomorrow for another 20!

Do you have a favourite? Let us know which one!

*Watch this space for a David Coleman special coming soon!*