Difficult as it was to hear, slavery has benefited descendants like me - I believe there is a superior athletic gene in us.

I had already been into my professional career for six years and had not won an individual gold medal at the Olympics. There was a tremendous amount of pressure going into 1996 to get it done.

Don't shoot for something unattainable - completely outside of your nature or opportunity.

When you're gone I can go running though the house screaming and no one will ever hear me.

I always wanted to be a sprinter.

Life is often compared to a marathon, but I think it is more like being a sprinter; long stretches of hard work punctuated by brief moments in which we are given the opportunity to perform at our best.

The only one who can beat me is me.