Lynn Davies

“It's not just about a coach telling you what to do and just following it unthinkingly.”

“I believe the friendship of the Games still exists. There is a tremendous camaraderie and atmosphere at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games - where else could you go and sit down and have breakfast with a Russian weightlifter, an East German sprinter, and an Indian fencer and talk about different cultures and problems?”

“I remember one of my first international trips to Poland. After a long, tortuous journey, we arrived at the hotel exhausted but without the team management, who had gone ahead of us from the airport in cars, checked into the best rooms, and left us with what was left.”

“I still do cardiovascular exercises, aerobic exercises, and then strength training, as it's important to keep your muscle strength, as every decade you lose about 10% of this.”

“The important thing for the future is that our schools and clubs have more and better coaches and teachers to ensure that all that enthusiasm, spirit and talent is harnessed and developed.”

“I felt I was never going to beat Igor Ter-Ovanesyan or Ralph Boston because they were the joint world record holders.”

“When you win, suddenly this celebrity status is hoisted upon you.”

“It's about lessons for life. It's not just about winning either.”

“We must have PE teachers and coaches who are well trained and qualified.”

“You've got to be a disciplined person if you want to succeed both in sport and in life.”

“If athletes are found to have taken performance enhancing drugs, then they should be banned for two years, even if they are British.”