I ran and ran and ran every day, and I acquired this sense of determination, this sense of spirit that I would never, never give up, no matter what else happened.

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My mother taught me very early to believe I could achieve any accomplishment I wanted to. The first was to walk without braces.

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I loved the feeling of freedom in running, the fresh air, the feeling that the only person I'm competing with is me.

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It doesn't matter what you're trying to accomplish. It's all a matter of discipline. I was determined to discover what life held for me beyond the inner-city streets.

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But when you come from a large, wonderful family, there's always a way to achieve your goals.

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I knew that whatever I set my mind to do. I could do.

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Believe me, the reward is not so great without the struggle.

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i had a series of childhood illnesses... scarlet fever.... pneumonia.... Polio. I walked with braces until I was at least nine years old. My life wasn't like the average person who grew up and decided to enter the world of sports.

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The triumph can't be had without the struggle.

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Sometimes it takes years to really grasp what has happened to your life.

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