I think the missing part of this saying is having determination is how you overcome obstacles and put you in position for success. No one can be successful in anything without motivation. Giving up every time something challenges you is a defeated attitude.

I think temporarily not completing your goal isn’t an outright failure. Especially in a situation such as playing basketball. He was on a path towards obtaining the highest accolade and achieved it. Learning from your mistakes is a part of the recipe for success. Let’s put this in a scenario most of us go through…. Lets say you work a job as a cleaner/janitor and the main goal of that job is to have the area you’re assigned to be clean and presentable. You have little experience in the beginning because cleaning is new to you. As you grow in your job you learn what works and what doesn’t. I think true failure is when you quit and don’t work towards any goals.