I knew that whatever I set my mind to do. I could do.

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.

The feeling of accomplishment welled up inside of me, three Olympic gold medals. I knew that was something nobody could ever take away from me, ever.

I'm in my prime. There's no goal too far, no mountain too high.

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

Black women . . . work because their husbands can't make enough money at their jobs to keep everything going. . . . They don't go to work to find fulfillment, or adventure, or glamour and romance, like so many white women think they are doing. Black women work out of necessity.

Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose.