In just a few words, they bring to life the joy of competition, the ecstasy of victory, the misery of defeat and the love of Olympic competition in general. The thoughts and opinions of some of the world's greatest competitors, such as the samples below, make this a very special little book. As Mark Spitz famously said, "If you fail to prepare, you're prepared to fail."The London 2012 Games will generate a lot of interest in present and past Olympians and the quotes in The Little Book of Olympic Spirit will provide motivation not just for athletes but anyone aiming for a goal.