A businessman needs a laptop. Athletes need massages and the right diet.

A failure isn't a failure if it prepares you for success tomorrow.

It took Dan Jansen, the speed skater, four Olympics to win a medal-a gold one at that!-but he never gave up. I won't, either.

Success is always an easier motivator, because you want more of it. But I've also been motivated by failure. Had I medaled in London, I don't think I would be one of the few that have gone to a Summer and Winter. I would have been content with that medal. Instead, I used that failure to go to the Winter Olympics. I always tell people that failure can be one of your biggest motivators if you just have an attitude adjustment about it.

Believe it or not, Twitter calms me down. I enjoy interacting with people.

As a young girl, I just wanted to have fun and compete. There were no goals of becoming an Olympic athlete. I wanted to hang out with my friends. I wanted to do something fun, and that's what I did

I'm inspired by failure. The process of defeat – picking yourself back up again is the hardest thing in the world.