It's tough to put into words right now, but I finished my career how I wanted to. Through the ups and downs of my career I've still been able to do everything that I've ever wanted to accomplish.

I always thought, it would be neat to make the Olympic team.

If you want to be the best you have to do things that other people aren't willing to do.

You can't put a limit anything.

Perseverance, determination, commitment, and courage-those things are real. The desire for redemption drives you.

For recovery, I think it's a big deal to eat within a half-hour after you exercise. Otherwise I just try to put carbs into my system before I swim and then load up on the protein after. I don't count calories. Whether it's Sour Patch Kids or Reese's or a bag of chips, if I feel like eating it, I'm going to eat it.

I learned how fast you can go from being an international hero to being a reference in a joke on a late night talk show.