Home › Authors › Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith
Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith Quotes
b. 1988
Gonezie Marie Josée Dominique Ta Lou-Smith (née Ta Lou) (born 18 November 1988) is a Cote'd Ivoiresprinter competing in the 100 metres and 200 m. She finished fourth in the 100 metres and 200 metres finals at the 2016 Olympic Games, missing out on a medal in the 100m by seven-thousandths of a second (0.007).
Random Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith quote
16 quotes
Rio gave me self-confidence, experience and motivation to return to training and work hard.
It’s nice to see people who want to take a picture with me, who want to become like me. But I tell them they should not want to become like me, rather greater than me.
I wake up every morning and I am in good health, so I’m not going to complain about money.
I want to be the greatest sprinter in Africa.
My older brother did not want me to carry on with football, fearing that I would become a tomboy.
I am just here trying to beat my personal best, and the rest will come.
Sometimes I’m in doubt, but my coach reminds me that I can do something good. So I believe in myself.
And the next day you see me smiling, you don't know what I'm going through because I tell myself, ‘People have other bigger problems than me.
I just want to enjoy every competition and not pressure myself with thoughts like, ‘Oh, I need to run because I need the money or something else.
It gives me so much confidence. I didn’t know that doing what I’m doing could be an example for other people. You don’t need much to become a star.
When I started, my mother didn't want me to do it.
I have been struggling after the Olympics. I didn't want to continue my season. But I did. It’s not always about winning, it's about not giving up, about giving your best every day, every time you pursue your dreams.
I want to leave a big legacy. Not only for Ivorian girls, but for all African girls. I want to show that they can do something big if they believe in themselves.
Athletics is who I am today. Before, I didn’t love myself like that. With athletics, I see another part of me. It’s the only way to show what I can do.
Even if someone say, ‘you will not make it!’, just show them that you can make it because life is not about always giving up. It's about working hard, sacrifice, and making yourself available to push your body to achieve your dreams.
I have been [through] ups and downs in my career, but this year has been harder because I hard to work really hard to be here.
Topics Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith is quoted on