"When I turned 50, I said to myself, well, if this is what it's like turning 50, I can't wait to turn 60 because I still felt very, very mentally and physically good, outside my back surgery"
About this Quote
The subtext is pure elite-sport psychology. Athletes are trained to convert threat into fuel, and birthdays are a culturally sanctioned moment to panic. Norman chooses the opposite move: he treats 50 as data that disproves the stereotype. That’s why the sentence leans hard on “very, very” twice. He’s not merely saying he’s okay; he’s doubling down, insisting on abundance where people expect scarcity.
Then comes the crucial qualifier: “outside my back surgery.” It’s a small clause with big work to do. It nods to reality, signals toughness without melodrama, and prevents the whole thing from sounding like denial. In a sports culture that worships resilience but punishes fragility, acknowledging the surgery becomes a controlled vulnerability - enough honesty to be credible, not enough to surrender the myth.
Context matters: Norman’s brand has long been about swagger, longevity, and staying relevant beyond peak competition. This quote sells a version of aging as expansion rather than retreat, a promise that the next decade can be approached like a new season - with preparation, confidence, and a little bravado.
Quote Details
| Topic | Aging |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Norman, Greg. (2026, January 17). When I turned 50, I said to myself, well, if this is what it's like turning 50, I can't wait to turn 60 because I still felt very, very mentally and physically good, outside my back surgery. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/when-i-turned-50-i-said-to-myself-well-if-this-is-53669/
Chicago Style
Norman, Greg. "When I turned 50, I said to myself, well, if this is what it's like turning 50, I can't wait to turn 60 because I still felt very, very mentally and physically good, outside my back surgery." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/when-i-turned-50-i-said-to-myself-well-if-this-is-53669/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"When I turned 50, I said to myself, well, if this is what it's like turning 50, I can't wait to turn 60 because I still felt very, very mentally and physically good, outside my back surgery." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/when-i-turned-50-i-said-to-myself-well-if-this-is-53669/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.






