Training for the Olympics was much easier than balancing my life now! When practice was over, there was time for me. But with four kids and a career, I have no downtime. When I'm not on the road, I finish my workday at 2:30 p.m. Then I pick the kids up from school and they get 100 percent Mommy, not part Mommy and part Mary Lou Retton.

Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you.

I cant justify taking money away from hungry kids and needy schools to pay for the Games when corporations are willing to write the checks.

Training for the Olympics was much easier than balancing my life now! When practice was over, there was time for me. But with four kids and a career, I have no downtime. When I'm not on the road, I finish my workday at 2:30 p.m. Then I pick the kids up from school and they get 100 percent Mommy, not part Mommy and part Mary Lou Retton.

If I had a bad performance in a particular leotard, I threw it in the trash.

As much time as you put into it, that's what your achievements are going to be when you come out of it.

I usually don't mind giving autographs, but when hundreds of folks with paper and pen start coming at you, it's time to seek shelter.