Motivation Quote by Clara Hughes

“I am kind of like a diesel” is athlete-speak with a poet’s efficiency: not flashy, not explosive, but built for the long haul. Clara Hughes reaches for a machine metaphor that almost deliberately undersells her talent. A diesel engine doesn’t do fireworks; it does torque. It grinds, it endures, it gets stronger once it’s moving. In a sports culture obsessed with highlight-reel speed and instant dominance, she’s positioning herself as the opposite of a sprinter’s mythology: slow to warm, hard to stop.

The second line, “It is the cyclist in me,” matters because it’s doing identity work. Hughes isn’t just describing physiology; she’s explaining a worldview shaped by cycling’s particular cruelty and romance. Cycling rewards patience, suffering, and pacing intelligence. It’s a sport where you can feel awful at kilometer 20 and still win at 200 if you ration your effort and keep your head. Calling herself a diesel is a subtle flex: I don’t need to look terrifying early; I’ll still be there when your legs betray you.

Context deepens it. Hughes is a rare crossover icon (cycling and speed skating), and that breadth can invite skepticism about whether someone can truly peak across disciplines. The diesel metaphor answers that with a narrative fans understand: she’s not a natural spark; she’s a builder. It’s also a small rebuke to glamor. The engine she’s proud of is the one associated with work, not show - a self-portrait of resilience as a competitive strategy.