Adam Thielen Quotes

I explain to athletes, you're supposed to be a well-oiled machine. You're supposed to be in better shape than the people watching you. You're supposed to be an unbelievable specimen of a human being. You have to treat your body different while you're performing.

Your body's really only meant to compete at the highest levels of combat sports for a few years.

Athletes peak for the Olympic Games and can take months to get back up to that level.

It's not easy, but I play with my body, and I can feel how important it is to get 100 percent fit to play. This is an important thing to play in the Premier League.

Obviously we've got a lot of science behind football these days and we've got a lot of people that can advise us on how best to look after our bodies.

If I'm not in the best condition, the best playing shape, I can't really do nothing for my team.

If I am at 100 percent fitness, I do not fear any competition for places in the first 11.

As long as I have that support from my team, and I have that confidence in myself that I train really hard, I think there's no one out there who can defeat me in my weight class.

I just want to be in the best shape I can be. Not to stand on that start line and say: 'Oh my God, I have this injury and that injury.' I just want to be able to go out and race.

The athlete of today is not an athlete alone. He's the center of a team - doctors, scientists, coaches, agents and so on.

If all goes well and my body reacts well, and I feel I have a good high level to compete amongst the best then I'll come back and play.

Sochi will be my third Olympics, and I'm coming into these games in a stronger position than I've been in years past.

Shearer could be at 100 per cent fitness, but not peak fitness.

Sports life is very short.

The thing about the NBA, any pro sport, is, guys don't know how to take care of their body.

First and foremost, my involvement within the Olympic pursuit and Games were obviously surrounded by only putting the absolute best nutrients into my body.

I was the type of guy that used to get up in the morning and go out and just out run everybody on the field without stretching or warming up or anything.

There's no day when I don't think it would be great to be 25 years old and have the Olympics coming in less than 300 days - and be the best in the world. I can't think of anything so motivating.

The big push for me is the Olympics this year. If I'm healthy, I'm not worried about my ranking. I think I can hit the ball. It's just about my body cooperating. It's about being able to play matches in a row. Right now, I'm not sure how much I can do with that, but we'll see.

We're focusing on producing top, great athletes for the Olympics.

I believe that, as an athlete, how you got to the age of 42 makes a big difference. I have learned about my body; I haven't gone off only talent until I was 42.

I do know when my body is ready or when it's going to perform best for me.

We have all the money in the world but do not realise how important the body is. A player on average has a seven year professional career, 10-15 if everything goes right. You have to do everything possible to be at your maximum.

Our job as pros is to walk a very fine line: be the best but stay healthy so you can continue to progress and be at the top. You can't push the sport and yourself if you're always hurt.

The big goal is playing in June, so I'd rather be in the best shape I can be in health-wise than be dragging with nagging injuries or not being 100 percent trying to get to the Finals.