Emil Zatopek Quotes

I was unable to walk for a whole week after that, so much did the race take out of me. But it was the most pleasant exhaustion I have ever known.

Everyone said, 'Emil, you are a fool!'
But when I first won the European Championship, they said: 'Emil, you are a genius!'

If I can get better, why not?

An athlete cannot run with money in his pockets. He must run with hope in his heart and dreams in his head.

Why should I practice running slow? I already know how to run slow. I want to learn to run fast.

Try for a goal that's reasonable, then gradually raise it.

We are different, in essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon.

Men, today we die a little.

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

Great is the victory, but the friendship of all is greater.

A runner must run with dreams in his heart, not money in his pocket.

It's at the borders of pain and suffering that the men are separated from the boys.

If you come to think of it, you never see deer, dogs and rabbits worrying about their menus and yet they run much faster than humans.

It is not necessary to smile and make a wonderful impression on the judges.

Sri Chinmoy brings Heaven to me. He inspires everyone to be happy. He deserves the biggest gold medal.

My running was very simple; it was out of myself.

What has passed is already finished with. What I find more interesting is what is still to come.

I was not talented enough to run and smile at the same time

If you want to run, run a mile. If you want to experience a different life, run a marathon.