Working hard becomes a habit, a serious kind of fun. You get self-satisfaction from pushing your self to the limit, knowing that all the effort is going to pay off.

You give up your childhood. You miss proms and games and high-school events, and people say it's awful... I say it was a good trade. You miss something but I think I gained more than I lost.

Getting to know athletes from all over the planet is a big part of the Olympic experience.

As simple as it sounds, we all must try to be the best person we can: by making the best choices, by making the most of the talents we've been given.

Even though it may seem counterintuitive, a comfort zone is a dangerous place to be.

Having a home away from the media glare is important to world-class athletes.

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.