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.

In group lesson number six I think we learned how to turn backwards and then just kind of wiggle. That wasn't really skating backward, but I guess I was going in the right direction.

I think I dreamed about competing at the Olympics, maybe hoping to win a gold medal. Not that I ever thought that I would, but I dreamed about it.

You see the fairy tale - four minutes of glory at the Olympics. I thought my life would be cake after that.

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

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

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