It's hard work to make a four-minute program look effortless and elegant.

Skating taught me to set a goal and to block out other things and just focus on this one thing.

I never really like to skate in an empty ice rink; I always need the attention of an audience.

Almost nothing is presented to you on a silver platter. You have to really work for it.

I started the class late. The teacher said I would have to learn as much in half a year that the others learned in a year. I did it.

Figure skating is a mixture of art and sport.

When youre young, you dont think very far ahead. You just think in terms of the next day, the next week, the next competition. You dont think about injuries that could threaten your long-term health.