Before turning pro, I would never have just left my skates sitting in the locker room unattended.

As a teenager especially, I just wanted to do my thing and not be noticed.

Winning in women's singles felt surreal. I felt that everything I had done - the hard work, the tough times - was all worth it.

Before turning pro, I would never have just left my skates sitting in the locker room unattended.

Once you have a child, your heart is forever outside your body. I totally understand that now.

In terms of my career, having the gold definitely changed my life. The Olympics are different, you know? They're every four years and it's such a small group.

At 6 years old, the ice became a place for me to express myself. Because I was so shy off the ice, it became my safe haven, with music and freedom and self-expression. That was my emotional outlet.