Trans people deserve something vital. They deserve your respect... If you want to call me names, make jokes, doubt my intentions, go ahead, because the reality is I can take it. But for the thousands of kids out there who are coming to terms with being true to who they are, they shouldn't have to take it.

I was growing up in the 50's and 60's. Back then they didn't even know what dyslexia was.

Fear is part of the process. If you weren't scared, you'd be in trouble.

I was afraid the teacher was going to make me read in front of class and I was going to look bad. [But] if I wasn't dyslexic, I probably wouldn't have won the Games. If I had been a better reader, then that would have come easily, sports would have come easily. And I never would have realized that the way you get ahead in life is hard work.

Have an open mind and an open heart. I'm not this bad person. I'm just doing what I have to do.

The most challenging aspect of the decathlon is not the events themselves, but how you train to become the best 100-meter runner you are on the same day that you're the best 1,500-meter runner.

I'm saying goodbye to people's perception of me and who I am, I'm not saying goodbye to me, because this has always been me.