"So as an amateur Olympic competitor I loved criticism, because it made me better. But now as a professional I don't really know how to channel it or where to take it, so I don't take it quite as well."
- Scott Hamilton

"The important thing to me is that I'm not driven by people's praise and I'm not slowed down by people's criticism. I'm just trying to work at the highest level I can."
- Russell Crowe

"I don't believe you have to be better than everybody else. I believe you have to be better than you ever thought you could be."
- Ken Venturi

Competition could lead to ugly behavior....

Movie: Tonya & Nancy: The Inside Story
When ice-skater Kerrigan is savagely attacked, people begin to wonder if the intense rivalry between Harding and Kerrigan was motivation for someone.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111456/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl