Who cares if somebody dances better? Doing my very best is rewarding internally.

If I have given my all and still do not win, I haven't lost. Others might remember winning or losing; I remember the journey.

An Olympic pursuit really takes a full three to four years of Olympic preparation.

When I'm done skating, I guarantee you that I will not look back and remember standing on the podium. I'm going to remember these days - being with the team. Training alone, in my basement. Training when everybody else is sleeping. Doing things that nobody else is doing. Digging down. Seeing what kind of character I truly have. I love that stuff.

With speed skating, it's like doing one-legged squats over and over again, with that one leg absorbing more than 80 percent of your weight. It takes an enormous amount of strength, and you're in such a weird position.

In school I studied international business and marketing, so I've always been attracted to business.

It's important to be driven and have goals. You want an independent woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it. It's attractive to me when a woman is doing what she loves. It makes me want to know more.