My coach was a great politician, so he did most of the work. He was good.

Our family life, before figure skating turned it upside down, seemed normal. Our town of Riverside, Connecticut, was part of Greenwich, and we had the advantage of their wonderful community, with great beaches and beautiful parks.

I was just ice skating. I had no concept of that. In those days you couldn't see the judges. I was this little person on the ice and they were just people that would stand around the boards.

My parents didn't have a lot of money, but we never knew that. They really did the best they could.

There were no competitions on television. The first skating competition I ever remember seeing on television was the 1968 Olympics when Peggy Fleming won.

To be the world's best, you have to beat the world's best.

I wanted to learn how to skate backwards and they wouldn't help me and they went off and left me on my own.