When the going got tough, I really had to draw on many of the same competitive instincts I did when I was skating. I really had to put my head down and stay positive. I had to fight.

In 1968, in the midst of the tumultuous 1960s, the Olympics were much more than just another event

Giving life to music through skating was something I wanted to be known for

Skating was the vessel into which I could pour my heart and soul

I think skating helped me find myself.

It's a level of strength and character that few of us can imagine; a grace under pressure that few of us will ever attain. It's why an Olympic gold medal would not have made us love or admire her more.

When the going got tough, I really had to draw on many of the same competitive instincts I did when I was skating. I really had to put my head down and stay positive. I had to fight.