25 quotes found
"I had wanted this [51 seconds] and to race in this stadium (London) for so long so to do so well in this atmosphere…I couldn’t be happier...I’d been feeling great in training and that I could not only run 51 but do it in my last competition before Budapest is great. I have all the information I think we need in what we can do better – now it’s time to work hard and get the last things perfect."
"I’d been feeling great in training and that I could not only run 51 but do it in my last competition before Budapest is great. I have all the information I think we need in what we can do better – now it’s time to work hard and get the last things perfect."
"Changing my stride pattern is one of the biggest changes I will make in my career. I like the challenge. I knew it would be tough but I really like the feel of the 14 strides compared to 15 so I think we made a really good decision."
"Everyone brings their A game to the championships and I hope to do the same."
"Since I was a young girl, times have changed, but when I was a little girl, I would play with the boys and I was the only girl in the team, but I had a great time."
"The boys all accepted me and I think they also liked the fact that I was in their team."
"I always thought I would just prove myself."
"After the match, they would often say to me that they had never played against a girl, but that they thought I was actually pretty good. That was quite special."
"When you play with boys, it’s different because of their speed, the way they handle the ball and their strength. I really learned a lot from that and it has also made me a better player."
"From the start, my own mindset has been that I would give anything to make it. I’m just going to make it."
"I just think for me it’s a respect thing. The men get paid a ridiculous amount of money but it’s also the most interesting and entertaining sport to watch. It’s attractive to sponsor that and be involved in it for many companies so I do think they have all the right to have so much money going into that side of the game."
"I know so many girls who used to be studying, working and playing football all at the same time. If you take that weight off then it means the female players can fully focus on being elite athletes."
"Before that I wanted to be a coach, but I didn’t know how big I could be as a coach."
"If you really want something and you put all your effort in it together as a group, then anything is possible."
"I never punish. I never shout. I never swear. What are they afraid of?"
"I’m Dutch so I am clear in what I want. I think the fact I am maybe different – that is what they have felt. They are not used to women being direct."
"Because I’m a female coach, I’m undermined. A male coach who treated their players so well and put himself on the barricades would be praised. I did my job protecting players."
"If I would have been a male, this would have never, ever been an issue."
"I took care of the players. I’m direct. I’m opinionated, but nobody touches my players."
"I am the only coach in the world who’s always at the subs training because I know it’s awkward as a sub."
"It’s only a woman that can be criticised like that. Do you think Pep Guardiola would get this on his plate?"
"It’s my job to get the best programme on the pitch."
"Where in men's football would a player be given be given the opportunity, who's only played so few minutes (for their club), to go to the World Cup and be apart of it?"
"Five times I became coach of the year. Do you think this is because of my nice glasses or something?"
"In my opinion, no head coach in the world would accept interference of the executives in technical football affairs."