You don't really want to load up a whole lot, probably anything more than four hours before the race. I needed something to make me feel full, but I certainly didn't want it to make me feel stuffed.

I had the drive to pursue speedskating and I found a sport that I was good at. If I'd got into cycling, I would just be another has been.

You got to get lucky because it lasts for a week and a lot of things can happen in a week.

Then going out on the ice usually about 15 minutes before and certain things I would do for the different races, aspects that you run through your mind.

Sports and politics don't mix.

When I was skating you had to participate in every thing.

I really liked it best when I was a nobody.