Most people who have achieved great successes and become role models for the next generation have actually come a long way before reaching that position. Just as every failure has a story, every success has one too. Famous athletes are no exception, and there are many lessons to be drawn from their success stories.
Gold Rate
21 Jan 2026
Most of the time, people witness only the success itself. However, the process that leads to success usually stays in the background. In this article, you will learn the most important factors behind the success secrets of athletes who have left their mark on world sports, and the lessons that can be drawn from these life stories.
The Cost of Success
When you turn on a sports channel on TV or enter a betting site like 1xBet, you may hear the names of dozens of athletes. But remember: most of these names belong to a very small number of people who managed to stand out among millions of athletes. Although millions of people start sports every year, only a very small portion become professional, and an even smaller number reach a legendary career.
From this perspective, the lives of people who have managed to rise to the top of the Olympics are truly instructive. In the sections below, a few professional athlete stories will be presented. But first, take a look at the table showing how difficult and costly it is to become a professional in sports:
| Sport / Country | Number of Licensed Players | Number of Professional Players | Rate of Becoming Professional |
| Football / England | 1,1 million | 4.000 | 0,36% |
| Football / Germany | 2,7 million | 6.000 | 0,22% |
| Football / Spain | 1,2 million | 3.500 | 0,29% |
Don’t Give Up – Michael Jordan
Lesson: “Never give up, even in the worst situation.”
Michael Jordan, whom everyone considers one of the basketball legends, did not actually present a very successful profile at the start of his career. Jordan was not even accepted onto his high school basketball team. Throughout his career, he missed nearly 9,000 shots and lost 300 games. But each time he fell, he got back up, and he turned the idea of learning from failure into reality.
The motivation that pushed him to forget his failures later opened the door to countless championship opportunities. Jordan explains this process as follows:
“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I was trusted to take the game-winning shot and I missed. I’ve failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
Fear of failure is one of the main reasons many people cannot fully focus on their careers. Jordan’s life story shows that even in the worst situations, you should not give up, and you should turn every bad experience into a learning opportunity.
Self-Confidence – Serena Williams
Lesson: “Learn to trust yourself and make yourself your biggest supporter—not by boasting, but by loving yourself.”
Serena Williams grew up in Compton, California. She played tennis on public courts filled with broken glass and trained in an environment where gunshots could be heard. Despite this, she rose to the world’s biggest tennis arenas and became world number one.
Tennis at that time was not a field that opened doors to Black athletes, and when the Williams sisters entered professional tennis, they were not welcomed warmly. When they started winning, they were treated as if they didn’t belong in that world. The victories continued, but instead of changing their attitude, they remained who they were and made themselves feel at home.
Today, they are loved by the tennis world. Unfortunately, we no longer have the chance to watch Serena Williams’ matches live. The tennis player announced in 2022 that she ended her career. However, by downloading 1xBet iOS , you can watch the live matches of her sister Venus Williams.
Teamwork Matters – Lionel Messi
Lesson: “Success is not only yours. Be fair, cooperate with your teammates, and learn to win together.”
When Lionel Messi steps onto the field as the captain of the Argentina National Football Team, he stands out not only with his individual talent but also with the importance he gives to team play. One of the decisive factors in Messi’s success is his leadership ability and the value he places on teamwork. These traits have brought him the following achievements so far:
- 2022 FIFA World Cup Champion (Argentina)
- Winner of the Ballon d’Or 7 times
- 4 UEFA Champions League titles
- 10 La Liga titles (Barcelona)
- 3 FIFA Club World Cup titles
- Olympic Gold Medal
This approach also showed itself in Argentina’s great success in the most recent World Championship. Throughout the tournament, Messi’s leadership and the harmony within the team enabled Argentina to overcome tough opponents and ultimately win the cup.
The lesson to learn from Messi is clear: true success comes from team spirit and cooperation rather than individual talent. Sharing success is, in many cases, the key to being successful.
Have a Goal – Cristiano Ronaldo
Lesson: “Have a clear vision and do not stray from your goals.”
Cristiano Ronaldo is a living example showing how decisive a clear vision and the ability to focus on goals can be. Ronaldo has become legendary for his discipline and his dedication to perfecting his craft.
Even when he was still playing in the youth system of Sporting Clube de Portugal, Ronaldo aimed to become the best footballer in the world. One of the ideas often voiced in Messi vs. Ronaldo debates is that Messi is the product of natural talent, while Ronaldo is the product of continuity.
Even after becoming a worldwide star, Ronaldo kept working hard and set new goals for himself, managing to remain one of the best in the world. The lesson from Ronaldo is that with consistency, it is possible to achieve anything. Stepping out of your comfort zone and feeling a bit of pressure can be beneficial for climbing higher in your career.
Be the Best – Michael Phelps
Lesson: “Never settle for anything less than being the best in everything you do.”
Michael Phelps is the most successful Olympic athlete in history, with 28 medals—23 of them gold. Another interesting detail is that during his swimming career, Phelps swam about 80 kilometers per week in training. In other words, he worked at distances exceeding nearly 10 kilometers almost every day. Michael says:
“I always wanted to be the best of all time, and there was nothing that could stop me from doing that.”
Indeed, no one could stop Phelps. What Michael means is: whatever you do, do it in the best way. You need to devote yourself to your work, have a competitive character, and never give up.
Determination Brings Success – Usain Bolt
Lesson: “Success is achieved not only through talent, but through discipline and perseverance.”
Usain Bolt, known as the fastest man in the world and who has written his name into athletics history in golden letters, is a living example of determination. The Jamaican sprinter was born in a poor region of Jamaica. His family’s financial difficulties and limited opportunities did not make it easy for young Bolt to display his talent. On the contrary, this situation increased his motivation even more. With his perseverance and willpower, the athlete achieved the impossible:
- 8 Olympic Gold Medals (2008, 2012, 2016)
- 11 World Championship Gold Medals
- 100-meter world record: 9.58 seconds
- 200-meter world record: 19.19 seconds
- 3 Olympic Gold Medals in the 4×100-meter relay
One of the defining traits of Bolt’s career is that he never skipped tough training sessions and prepared at maximum level before every race. Although he encountered many injuries and difficulties on the road to success, he did not give up and always managed to come back.
Usain Bolt clearly proved that being born with talent is not enough to be successful; real success comes from perseverance, discipline, and focusing on the goal. What has gone down in history as the Usain Bolt record is actually an example of unparalleled determination.
