Some of today's athletes do not have that kind of pride. They left school at 16, have never had a job in their life and are getting Lottery funding, earning money as an athlete.
My mother was a fastidious and orderly homemaker. I was the messy but creative type. I picture her following behind me through life with a damp rag and an air of exasperation.
I've probably put up with more criticism than a lot of people out there. At the end of the day, you block out everything, especially with your personal life.
Well, to take me from where I was, and the life I was leading, to the life I lead now with the church and with the Lord and with Jesus Christ, it's a total, total turn-around.
Being the first to cross the finish line makes you a winner in only one phase of life. It's what you do after you cross the line that really counts.
Once you have been through a certain amount of things in life, you definitely grow more comfortable with yourself. To persevere and hang in there and believe in yourself.
Some people are going to be happy with my decision, some people aren't... But I must live my life.
I don't have to live the roller coaster other people live with my life. It's hard because people try to have an effect.
I love traveling and seeing new things, learning the histories of different cultures. But I've always wanted to go to the Galapagos to see the giant turtles.
Skating isn't about the medals or the results. I love what I do. It's much more fun to win, but you cannot every time.
I love music, and a lot of it. Jazz is probably on the top with guys like Miles Davis. But I even enjoy music from the '60s and '70s.
I love athletics. As an athlete, I like to believe I can still do the things I used to do when I was once young.
I was always falling in and out of love. I was engaged when I was 16 to the first guy I ever dated, but my father told him I was too young.
People wonder why I love Africa so much. I say this is where I was born and raised. My roots are in Africa; that's were I developed.
I have achieved everything that I ever wanted to accomplish in this game and more so, for me, I have been fulfilled.
I'm really looking forward to just concentrating on the swimming part now instead of what's going on with me outside the pool.
I attacked my cancer diagnosis the same way I attack training and competing, and that's pretty fearless.
I want to be promoted in the urban areas. A lot of African-American people should know more about me.
I'm a professional fighter and like most professional fighters I have had difficulties with my hands in the past.
I'd have to be superman to do some of the things I'm supposed to have done, I've been at six different places at six different times.
I was blessed with a long career where I won gold medals for myself and my country. Nothing stands out as a disappointment.
