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.

In the dressing room, I always put on my right shoe first. Same thing for my right wristband.

There can be distractions, but if you're isolated from the heart of the Games, the Olympics become just another competition.

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.

There are so many negatives in our society. To be on the cover of a magazine these days, you have to have been through drug rehab three times. What message is this giving to young people? But there are positives in our society. And I try to surround myself with good-natured, positive people.

Many medal winners dream of competing in a sport other than the one they're famous for.