I told myself after 2008 that I was done for good. But they say you can't keep a gymnast away from her sport.

I think about my goals. There were a lot of times in gymnastics when I really didn't want to go in and train, but you can't make it to the Olympics if you don't train!

Gymnastics is so complex.

To finish off this whole Olympics by finally getting the gold medal, it's the best feeling in the world.

People put too much emphasis on looks.

It might have been easier to retire, to say my knee couldn't handle it and let that be that. At the same time, the prospect of not being able to compete in gymnastics anymore was heartbreaking.

I missed being considered an athlete and having that competitive drive, and missed having something to work for every day. I'd taken two and a half years away from the sport and was out of shape. I wanted to get back to where I was in 2008.