Bonnie Blair is one of the most celebrated athletes in Winter Olympics history. Born in New York, she became a dominant force in speed skating during the 1980s and 1990s. Over her remarkable career, Blair won five Olympic gold medals and one bronze medal, making her one of the most successful American Winter Olympians ever. Her dedication, perseverance and positive attitude inspired millions of people around the world.Although she achieved extraordinary success on the ice, Blair is remembered not only for her medals but also for the wisdom she shared about sports, life, and personal growth.
26 May 2026 | 14:25
What’s the one parenting advice you completely disagree with?
This quote, “Winning doesn’t always mean being first. Winning means you’re doing better than you’ve ever done before,” is widely attributed to Bonnie Blair and reflects her belief that success should not be measured only by trophies, medals or rankings. Instead, true success comes from improving ourselves and becoming better than we were yesterday.
What this quote conveys
Winning is about personal growthMost kids consider winning to mean coming first in a race or getting more points than anyone else. However, despite the success being awesome, Bonnie Blair makes it clear that there is much more to success than this. Each individual has unique qualities, struggles, and aspirations, so as long as you strive to perfect your skills, you have succeeded. For instance, if a child who previously had difficulty reading was able to get through a whole book by themselves, this could be considered an important win for the child even if he was not the best reader in his class.Focus on progress, not comparisonIt is quite simple to compare oneself with other people. One can observe the high marks achieved by classmates, the high speeds of running observed in athletes, and greater talents possessed by friends. Nevertheless, constant comparisons can make one forget about his own progress.The quote by Bonnie Blair can inspire children to concentrate on themselves only. Rather than asking whether they are better than somebody, they should try to find out whether they are better than yesterday. By monitoring their own achievements, children learn to gain self-confidence and motivation. Step-by-step improvement brings about brilliant results.If a student raises her score from 60 to 75 while another gets 90, she has still achieved something impressive.Effort and determination matter mostAnother equally vital message conveyed by this quote is that effort sometimes matters even more than the result itself. In some cases, people make great efforts and do not achieve anything but coming second place. Did they fail? No. For sometimes success is not determined only by the results obtained but is also reflected in the effort made and perseverance shown.Let us imagine a kid learning how to ride a bicycle. He might try and fail several times, but each new trial gives him a chance to gain experience and acquire some skills. If tomorrow he manages to ride a bike slightly further than before, it means that he has already succeeded.Thus, by cultivating such an attitude toward the challenges they face, kids learn to see the positive side in every obstacle they encounter. Such an approach can be beneficial for their achievements both in sport and at school.Bonnie Blair’s quote can be very instructive to both kids and grown-ups. While the world tends to admire only those who win, she teaches us the true meaning of success. Each time we learn something new, overcome some difficulties, and become slightly better at something, we win a significant victory.The next time you compete with others, take some test, or try yourself in something you’ve never done before, think about what Bonnie Blair has said. Victory isn’t limited to staying on the podium but consists of moving forward, putting in one’s best efforts, and growing. If you aim at developing as much as possible, you have already won.
