It took putting one foot in front of the other every single day to get through it to the point where I made it back on the team and won a gold medal in 2008.

With each year that's gone by, and as I grow up and get older, I've become more mature, of course, but you have a sense of who you are, and you find confidence in that.

It's clear that women athletics are pretty far behind in every way. In terms of facilities, how much we make, everything.

It was hard. I came to grips with a lot of difficulties that I've overcome. Each challenge kind of makes you who you are. It wasn't always a good thing. I have my own struggles in my life because of the things I was forced to overcome.

I've been through a lot of things in my personal and family life. That turned me into a fighter. I always strive to be the best I possibly can.

In front of the world, all of a sudden I'm a great athlete and I'm put into an environment with 25 other women and I'm expected to go to team meals, team functions.

I don't need a captain's band to lead a team to victory.