Being able to do something that's never been done before, that's what I've always wanted to do. . . . There was nothing that was going to stand in my way of being the first.

I am 26 and, and I don't recover as fast as I have in the past.

I felt comfortable in the water. I was in my own world, focused. I love sports and I'm a very goal-oriented person. Once I started falling in love with sports, it was easy. I was able to put my mind on something and go for it. That's how I am with everything, it doesn't matter what it is that I do. If I want to do something, nothing will stand in my way.

I love to race the best people in the world and the fastest people in the world.

I think goals should never be easy, they should force you to work, even if they are uncomfortable at the time.

Being compared to Ian Thorpe, that could be one of the greatest compliments you could ever get in swimming - being compared to him and Mark Spitz.

I'm kind of a creature of habit. Once I get used to doing things, it's like second nature.