I learned to take those experiences that were difficult in my life and in the adversity that I had overcome to use it for a positive change.

We need to educate our elite coaches more and have a better approach to teaching the athletes about how to be healthy rather than berate them, humiliate them, use tactics that could scar them for life.

Autographs and pictures do get a little old, but I don't mind if the people want it.

I was 26 years old when I found out that I had a sister who I never knew existed.

It's human nature to be timid in the face of obstacles, but I have learned to believe that challenges are opportunities for genius to shine. In order to feel alive, we have to accomplish things that we once believed we could not.

In my very first interview, at nine years old, I said I wanted to be an Olympic gold medalist. That was the first time I said it out loud in front of somebody other than my parents.

Since my mother is an extremely devoted Christian Orthodox woman, she prayed a great deal and taught me how to pray.