Rafer Johnson Quotations

I make appearance at local park and recreation agencies when the program starts, when they have the qualifying meets at the local levels. Then I try to go to the regional competitions, and of course I'm there in Hershey, Pa., in August for the North American final.

The main thing is that it's nice to see these young people - 9 to 14 years old - take the opportunity to get more involved in their health and fitness. We need more kids to be more active.

The whole decathlon is ridiculous, but the 1,500 meters is insanity.

It's very warm there, so we were outdoors all the time. The local people had programs for us year-round, where as kids we had the opportunity to play football, basketball, baseball, track and field - we just went from one sport to the next, year-round.

Through the program, they get the basics of what it takes to train.

I tell them how what matters is becoming the best you can be at whatever you're doing.

I also meet with city officials, representatives from governors' offices, really anyone in that sort of position who has shown an interest in youth fitness, to let them know why this sort of program is so important. I give the same message when I speak at conferences.

Tonight I'm going to shower and then just walk for about four hours and look at the moon.

On the way back, it struck me that I could have beaten most of the guys in the meet. That's when I decided to be a decathlon man.

I don't care if I never see Texas again.