The Olympics is about bringing the world together and learning how to go through struggles. That's what inspired me before my career and that's been my inspiration ever since I was striving towards the 2008 Games.

The Olympics is about bringing the world together and learning how to go through struggles. That's what inspired me before my career and that's been my inspiration ever since I was striving towards the 2008 Games.

Competition is all about you. It's about feeding your selfish needs. It feeds the depravity of your heart.

Ultimately when you have the perspective of why you're competing and what you're trying to pursue, the rest just falls into place.

Are the odds you face (in life) defeating or motivating you?

After quitting gymnastics in 2000, I was looking for that next thing where I could defy gravity. I was looking for something that had the flipping and the twisting and allowed me to be acrobatic.

It's totally freeing when I stay in tune with scripture. I don't have to worry if I miss a dive. I go into competition and it's like, "Praise God no matter what."