Don't follow in any footprints, make your own prints. Because, you are the future of tomorrow.

I maintained my edge by always being a student; you will always have something new to learn.

Even at 10 or 12, I was a hot, fast little cheerleader.

The greatest finish line for me was finishing college - it was a pact I made with my mother, during a time when she fell ill. That happened during my Freshman year, and unfortunately she never saw me compete in the Olympics. But she really wanted me to finish college, because she never finished Junior High.

Don't follow in any footprints, make your own prints. Because, you are the future of tomorrow.

The London games mark the 24th anniversary of my winning two golds and setting the world record in the heptathlon. Someone is going to want it; records are made to be broken - it's only a matter of time. I hope mine will outlive me.

We live in a world where sports have the potential to bridge the gap between racism, sexism and discrimination. The 2012 Olympic Games was a great start but hopefully what these games taught us is that if women are given an opportunity on an equal playing field the possibilities for women are endless.