To suddenly be a hero on a world basis was hard for me to understand. God gave me a gift. I got the chance to use it. I didn't think I deserved what people were saying. My talent is just more visible than theirs.

My basic philosophy can be summed up by an expression we use in Norwegian: hurry slowly. Get there, but be patient.

What Fred Lebow went through was an inspiration for me. You have to set goals for yourself.

In terms of fitness and battling through cancer, exercise helps you stay strong physically and mentally.

I am a private person and that has always been my personality.

To suddenly be a hero on a world basis was hard for me to understand. God gave me a gift. I got the chance to use it. I didn't think I deserved what people were saying. My talent is just more visible than theirs.

What spurs a person to get more serious is highly individual, but I have found that no matter what a person's level of ability, motivation must come from within, or it will not last.