Male figure skating is different than female figure skating; we're not America's sweetheart.

Half of figure skating is opinion, convincing judges.

When you turn professional, you become an entertainer, and like every other entertainer, you don't want to get a bad review.

Adversity, and perseverance and all these things can shape you. They can give you a value and a self-esteem that is priceless.

So as an amateur Olympic competitor I loved criticism, because it made me better. But now as a professional I don't really know how to channel it or where to take it, so I don't take it quite as well.

I didn't want to be the sissy figure skater, you know.

I was more interested in skating and the girls and traveling than I was in calculus.