In truth, 2007 was the hardest year of my life. I lost my best friend. I lost my father.

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.

I still don't buy the idea that I'm a 'sex symbol.'

In truth, 2007 was the hardest year of my life. I lost my best friend. I lost my father.

My life is a beautiful struggle.

If you truly expect to realize your dreams, abandon the need for blanket approval. If conforming to everyone's expectations is the number one goal, you have sacrificed your uniqueness, and therefore your excellence.

People didn't put pressure on me. I just played for the love of the game.