I wouldn't say that there's ever been an Olympic champion that didn't deserve to win an Olympic Gold Medal.

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

I worked as hard as I could. I was always the first one on the ice, and the last one off.

I was a bratty little sister. I was the youngest of three, and I often felt as though I didn't fit in.

I was passionate. I found something that I loved. I could be all alone in a big old skating rink and nobody could get near me and I didn't have to talk to anybody because of my shyness. It was great. I was in my fantasy world.

In my teen years leading up to the Olympics, I loved having the excuse to skip out on parties because of skating. Partying wasnt my thing anyway. Mostly I hung out with other skaters. We were all buddies, so its not like I missed out on socializing. I was really enjoying myself.

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