The triumph can't be had without the struggle.

When the sun is shining I can do anything; no mountain is too high, no trouble too difficult to overcome.

But when you come from a large, wonderful family, there's always a way to achieve your goals.

I don't consciously try to be a role model, so I don't know if I am or not. That's for other people to decide.

Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.

I had a series of childhood illnesses... scarlet fever.... pneumonia.... Polio. I walked with braces until I was at least nine years old. My life wasn't like the average person who grew up and decided to enter the world of sports.

When I was going through my transition of being famous, I tried to ask God, why was I here? What was my purpose? Surely, it wasn't just to win three gold medals. There has to be more to this life than that.