Essam El Hadary Quotes

It's crazy because it's a British record and a personal best, but I wanted that 2 m. I cleared the 1.97 m. first attempt with space, so I think I could have done a little better.

I am happy that I ran the half-marathon, but to me, just running and saying that I finished a race isn't enough for me. I want to run the race as best as I can. Working out for pants size isn't enough. I need a goal or a race to get back on the treadmill every day.

I just want to give my best in London, I want to cross that line and see a personal best on the clock then I will see what position I am in.

Then I want to beat Anthony Davis' shot-block record, and I want to win National Player of the Year. I definitely plan to put the work in to accomplish those goals.

I have ambitions to set records which will be hard to chase down, like getting more than 100 caps for Ireland.

I've frowned at the idea of breaking records, the first one to do something, or do it longer, higher, more difficult.

I probably went into sports with a sense of competitiveness and came out of it even more competitive.

I thought I could have breached Brian Lara's 400 runs. When I scored 319, I was unbeaten at 309 but then got out. So I think I could have reached that mark, but unfortunately, I missed it.

When you're in a sport like speed skating where the clock gives you the results, there is always a faster goal or a personal best to beat.

My value can only go higher if I can perform well in the Champions League.

I want to score more than 20. It's my job. But it is not an obsession for me ahead of winning titles for the team.

If I can win matches for the team, that will automatically help me personally.

Anybody I have spoken to who has held a record says 'Records are meant to be broken.' They get excited when somebody has an opportunity to break one of their records and take the sport even further.

If, say, a striker knows that scoring 30 goals in a season will lead to them winning a prestigious award then they will try that little bit harder because, regardless of what players may say, individual recognition on the world stage is important.

I'm desperately ambitious, and one of the things I haven't been able to do at Everton is win a trophy.

Every World Cup I want to try and win, and my 30th World Cup win was a big goal. And it's a good feeling to go into the world championships with a good result.

I think it's the opportunity to continue breaking records, either set by other people or by myself. I think that's what pushes me to always make the most of myself and be very demanding on myself.

I can't be disappointed with my first gold in a senior championship, and to score 5000 points, which only one other woman, the world record holder, has got over, I am satisfied.

Obviously I want to win all the big tournaments - I would hate to look back and not have won them. I also think, for me, there's something about reaching a certain level rather than getting a certain number of wins.

I haven't ever really had a goal to break that record or catch John Wooden.

I wouldn't be in this sport if I didn't think I could make it to the top.

I don't think anyone wants to win more than I do.

I always want to win, again and again.

I'm not in search of records like some other players. If I can score between 15 and 20 goals each season, I will be very happy.

I won my second Grand Slam in one year. That is the best year in my career.