The act of sport remains a human act, unrelated to gender.

Like families, competitors can bring out the worst as well as the best in each other. Like romance, competition has many faces, some of them ugly. In addition to showing me my grace and graciousness, the mirror of sports has reflected back to me my jealousy, pettiness, and arrogance.

Bodybuilding is about making oneself seem larger than life. It's about creating the illusion of perfection.

Think of yourself as an athlete. I guarantee you it will change the way you walk, the way you work, and the decisions you make about leadership, teamwork, and success.

Competition can damage self-esteem, create anxiety, and lead to cheating and hurt feelings. But so can romantic love.

Competition is about passion for perfection, and passion for other people who join in this impossible quest.

I discovered that forgiveness is a path to freedom.