8 Muhammad Ali quotes for running motivation

Muhammad Ali passed away four years ago, but his quotes still inspire athletes today

Ben Snider-McGrath June 3, 2020

On June 3, 2016, boxing legend and civil rights activist Muhammad Ali passed away at the age of 74. Throughout his career in the 60s and 70s, he had a lot of big wins, including a gold medal at the 1960 Olympics in Rome and becoming the world heavyweight champion on multiple occasions. He also provided the world with a lot of great quotes, many of which pertain to boxing and sports in general, so in honour of one of the greatest boxers of all time, here are eight of his best quotes that can help motivate runners everywhere.

Today in History: Muhammad Ali reacts after his first round knockout of Sonny Liston during the 1965 World Heavyweight Title fight at St. Dominic’s Arena, Lewiston, Maine.@SInow @SIFullFrame

?Photo by Neil Leifer #MuhammadAli #GOAT pic.twitter.com/aEs0z9CKfS

— Muhammad Ali (@MuhammadAli) May 25, 2020

“I am the greatest. I said that even before I knew I was.”

“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.”

He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life – #RIPMuhammadAli pic.twitter.com/Ld4CmPyn5Y

— NASA (@NASA) June 4, 2016

“Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.”

“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”

The real dreamer is the one who dreams about the impossible #justdoit #MuhammadAli pic.twitter.com/6AjBWFu97L

— Muhammad Ali (@MuhammadAli) March 25, 2019

“I hated every minute of training, but I said, “Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'”

“A man who has no imagination has no wings.”

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8 Muhammad Ali quotes for running motivation

Muhammad Ali passed away four years ago, but his quotes still inspire athletes today

“I am the greatest. I said that even before I knew I was.”

“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.”

“Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.”

“I hated every minute of training, but I said, “Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'”

“A man who has no imagination has no wings.”

“The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses—behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.”

“(Sonny Liston is) too ugly to be the world champ. The world champ should be pretty like me.”

“I am the greatest. I said that even before I knew I was.”

“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.”

“Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.”

“I hated every minute of training, but I said, “Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'”

“A man who has no imagination has no wings.”

“The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses—behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.”

“(Sonny Liston is) too ugly to be the world champ. The world champ should be pretty like me.”

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