I am always fighting inside the Council to get the message across that at each competition venue, we should send somebody to inspect and to make sure the athletes will be looked after in a correct manner.

Then I received support from the Government to compete for my country, and to represent Cuba in competition.

We are just not made up to be middle distance runners.

My main point in this regard was to compete for my country and my people and to receive the support of the entire Cuban society, to carry my flag in whatever competition I was in, the Olympic Games, Pan-American Games.

We need to be aware of all aspects: To check how they travel, how they eat, the competition conditions.

If we carry on filling up the calendar, we keep on pushing the athlete, we shorten the athletes longevity. The risk is to shorten a career that could have lasted 10 years because the athlete is burnt out.

The most important part of this is to prepare the athlete for life in general and then be able to compete.

In Cuba we use our champions to promote the sport.

We want to promote the great qualities of athletics - and maintain its integrity - all over the world.

I am always fighting inside the Council to get the message across that at each competition venue, we should send somebody to inspect and to make sure the athletes will be looked after in a correct manner.

And then you have the responsibility and the duty of being good examples to youngsters, not smoke, training hard, go to bed early, don't drink alcohol, don't take drugs, it's very important to have a policy for educating against doping.

Be very strong... be very methodical in your life if you want to be a champion.

We want to make sure our athletes have a future once their athletics careers are over.

I run in practically every single road race in my country, 5k, 10k just to promote the sport.

I love music, and outside of work my family keeps me very busy, I have five children to keep track of.

We do not use managers, we are the representatives of our athletes, and that is why I am deeply involved in athletics, I follow our athletes careers from start to finish, 100% all the way.

I got involved in athletics during physical education lessons at school.

Be very strong, be very methodical in your life if you want to be a champion.

You never know the limit of a human being.

Athletes as role models and heroes is a hoax, a sick hoax. The men and women who are fighting in Iraq, they are the true heroes.

No one will burn out doing aerobic running. It is too much anaerobic running, which the American scholastic athletic system tends to put young athletes through, that burns them out.

The bottom line is that these athletes tend to be safer investments because they really value their marketing opportunities. They don't make as much money as during their active careers.

For athletes, the Olympics are the ultimate test of their worth.

I always liked serve-and-volley players and big athletes.

Several professional athletes have wrongly taught many young Americans by example that the only way to succeed in sports is to take steroids.

There's that initial reticence for some athletes to take you seriously.

It strikes me that these days, clubs don't even want players who can truly play any more; they just want athletes, quick guys who don't have a football brain, can just run and run; some of them, Jesus. I can never imagine acting like that.

One of the perks of being an actor is to get to meet athletes that you respect. Especially who played before my time. Brooks Robinson is one of those athletes; they just don't make them any nicer.

The contracts are structured different than athletes in America, but for me, it was good to move on and go back to playing in the premiere league, which is the best league. It was disappointing, as far as the team goes, but for me, there wasn't much I could do.

I've witnessed thousands of superior athletes try to becomes hitters and fail at it.

The only reason we make good role models is because you guys look up to athletes and we can influence you in positive ways. But the real role models should be your parents and teachers!

We typically don't choose our athletes until about a month prior to the Games because anything can happen.

The night before I compete, I like to have steak. Meat is especially important for female athletes because it provides them with the nutrients they need to perform at their best.

Sports is a metaphor for overcoming obstacles and achieving against great odds. Athletes, in times of difficulty, can be important role models.

Too many athletes do not admit their weaknesses.

I was so afraid that the athletes wouldn't talk to me because I'm a woman.

When we reach the point where the women athletes are getting their pick of dates just as easily as the men athletes, then we've really and truly arrived. Parity at last!

American professional athletes are bilingual; they speak English and profanity.

I think the athletes respond well to me because I have been successful.

In this culture, where entertainers and athletes wield such power, it seems only right to me that they try to make their influence a good one.

Food fighters in Japan think of themselves as athletes. They have a higher recognition of the game and are constantly thinking about records. I probably won't continue for long because it puts pressure on the body. But I am at the age where I can perform my best.

I want to be like the athletes who seem stuck in time. When you see them at 50, you say they probably can still run like a champ.

Without a doubt, professional boxers are the most exploited athletes in our Nation.

Having a home away from the media glare is important to world-class athletes.

Cameron was able to get an inside look at professional football from the standpoint of athletes and agents and general managers that few people have ever seen.

My guess is many top athletes, distance runners included, use performance-enhancing drugs, enough so that the problem must be tackled.

Nutrition is also a valuable component that can help athletes both protect themselves and improve performance.

The street to obscurity is paved with athletes who can perform great feats before friendly crowds.

I do not think athletes should get a free pass. I don't think we should train our children and future athletes to believe that they are above the law and morality.