Barcelona is now in the past. I was sick and boxed in, and that's understandable why I lost.

When I race my mind is full of doubts - who will finish second, who will finish third?

I believe in God. He is the secret of my success. He gives people talent.

I am still young. I have a lot of time. And if someone breaks my records in the future, I won't cry. That's sport.

The new Kenyans. There are always new Kenyans.

Perhaps I don't give the impression that I'm hurting on the track. But that is because I am animated by an interior force which covers my suffering.

(Algerian athlete, 1996 Summer Olympics, on the 3000m world record) I think my 3:27 for 1500m is worth 7:21 for 3000m.

My real motivation is to reach 3:25... I am still young; I have a lot of time left in my career.

I run to be known as the greatest runner, the greatest of all time. I could not eat or sleep for a week after I lost in the (1992) Olympics. I have to win or die.

It was an extraterrestrial performance. It is very special to go below 4:50, but I believe I can do better.

And then in life, you always have to try, and today, I may not have succeeded, but I am happy to have tried to beat my record.

the strongest backs bear the heaviest burdens

You owe it to yourself, to refuse to surrender to obstacles that are meant to stop you from reaching far in your endeavours. Be determined that you will never be a captive of your environment.

First-rate people hire first-rate people second-rate people hire third-rate people.

[On not reading newspapers:] If something important happens, your mother calls you.

Being proud of who we are as people is more important than cutting into ourselves to create this false idea of beauty.

As weird as it is, as much as I love Southern California, the reality is I'm going to be somewhere else next season.

True beauty consists of purity of heart.

I like to be in the laboratory with the doors closed. I like experimenting and trying things.

In the midst of sorrow, faith draws the sting out of every trouble, and takes out the bitterness from every affliction.

I want the public to know the truth, not every condition affecting the heart comes from a blockage.