I've always worked closely with the designers and whoever's making the costumes. Comfort is the last thing you want on your mind when you're competing. In an ideal situation, you'll have something where you'll put it on and you're fine and you don't have to worry about it at all.

The skaters a lot of times do their own hair and makeup before they compete. That was always kind of a ritual...that calming, quiet time where you can just do your hair and makeup. And then I would always lace up my right skate before my left one.

Training for the Olympics was a lifelong endeavor and took many years.

With 30,000 deaths and 200,000 hospitalizations from the seasonal flu, those numbers are certainly higher than what we've seen of the swine flu. Protecting yourself from both viruses is very important.

I'd try to channel my nervous energy in a positive way into strength and endurance. It didn't always work.

I burnt myself out of skating. I was ready to focus on being a mom.

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