Dedication comes from within

Without dedication you can't have any level of success. Hopefully what we see in the sport of athletics, in those who are succeeding and consistently competing, is the result of the dedication, focus and the internal fortitude that comes from within. What you see is inner personality.

You can't cheat yourself

My parents are my heroes for instilling in me the belief that anything I wanted to accomplish I could do. I could never cheat on myself, as far as my effort. Just watching those great athletes in different athletic disciplines produce hard work, and they didn't expect anyone to give it to them, they went after it.

Earn respect

I think you have to be a hero off your field of play, that's where it really counts. I mean, these opportunities you have as an athlete, it's a short time in your life that can have a profound effect on so many people including yourself. It's what you do away from it that really is a testimony of what you represent, what people really see in you when they don't have to applaud you, when you're not always on top of the totem pole.

Do it for the right reasons

Unfortunately, I think so many young athletes gravitate to who they see at the top. So the athletes who are performing very well all the time see the treatment the champions receive and they aspire for the wrong reasons, they aspire for the glitz and the glamour and the financial stability. What they don't realise is the many hours, the many sacrifices - you really have to earn your way. It is a process and it's something that you have to endure. Some of us embrace it soon and some of us have to steer the course, but ultimately you have to be a sportsman.

Your personality defines you

Smile and enjoy the ride, because it's short lived and I think fans love to see you having fun. We understand you're competitive, but don't take yourself so seriously because this is a few short moments of your life and life does go on.

Ultimately sports or athletics should not define you. I tried not to let it define me. I tried to let my personality define me, because that's what fans and people embrace. It's not so much your athletic powers, it's your inner self and that's something that none of us can hide.

I don't want to be remembered for how graceful or how fast I ran over the hurdles but for how I conducted myself, that everything I do is positive and that I set a standard. Those like Colin Jackson took the baton from me and carried on very well.