Alia Atkinson Quotes

I'm not feeling much pressure for the Olympics because I think I already have done many things in my career. I will try to enjoy my second Olympics.

As a league player, for myself, you strive to win a comp. I'm lucky enough to have achieved that... but most sportspeople would love to go to the Olympics, and I haven't achieved that.

I never think about records. I focus on my race and try to get onto the podium consistently. It's hard enough to do that.

I would love very much to win a medal at the Olympics for myself, by my own performance. But that will never happen.

I hope I can compete in one or two Olympics in my career. Of course I would like to win a medal, but just being there would be awesome.

I have a phenomenal team behind me who have helped get me here and I, along with them, will now put everything we can into the final few weeks of preparations before the Olympic Games, where I am aiming to race well, work well through the rounds, post good times and maybe even a personal best time on the biggest stage of them all.

I would be happy with an Olympic bronze. What I don't have is an Olympic medal.

The incentive of a medal at the biggest sporting arena in the world is what drives me. Before I hang my gloves, I want to win the Olympic medal, and my performance at London will decide my future in the sport.

The Olympics are a world apart from racing for a record. You put out of your mind pretty much what anyone else doing in the race.

What does it prove, running in the AAU meet?

I don't really think about the title, to be honest with you. I'm just going to go in there and fight. I'm a proud champion, but at the same time I'm not really fighting for the belt. I'm fighting because I love to fight and don't wanna lose and I don't like to lose.

Yes, I could win the Olympics. I hope to, and that's what I'm training for. But it's really going to come down to me racing on that day... Just being really calm and mature about what the reality is - that's my strategy.

I just need to concentrate on each event and accumulate a good score, and hopefully I won't flop in the 800 m. in Gotzis.

For me, I've not really focused on a world record. I'm just trying to put a complete race together, and when I do that, then fast times will come.

I thought I was going to jump further than that, but I don't care - I'm Olympic champion.

Good athletes will be there at good competitions, but I don't think about them; I just think of bettering my own time.

My dream is to have a medal from the Olympic Games, and I will do my best to have it.

I remember before the Olympics, I was asked, 'What do you think you're going to do in the Olympics?' and I said, 'I'm hoping I'm going to win a medal, and, if possible, it's going to be a gold one.'

I felt I was never going to beat Igor Ter-Ovanesyan or Ralph Boston because they were the joint world record holders.

When I'm on the field, I'm locked in, focused on my job. I try to have a positive play and try to get points on the board.

I believe now that I've cemented my spot as the best swimmer in the world, and I can't describe how proud that makes me. I just want to keep working hard and hopefully just inspire more youngsters to keep swimming and encourage South Africans to become a winning nation.

Once I'm at the training ground, I'm focused, preparing for the next game.

I play this game to be the best tight end I can possibly be and win as many football games as I possibly can.

I'd love to go to the Olympics. I grew up watching it on TV, and I was always very patriotic and passionate watching that. I'd like to give that back to my country, but I know I can't just walk into the side.

The Olympics is still my greatest achievement... I have many belts, but there is only one Olympic gold.