Kim Yuna

Because winning a gold medal had been a dream of mine since a young age, I needed to empty my mind during the preparation for the Olympics by telling myself that it would be OK not to win a gold medal.

When I was little, I had never really expected to win such a big competition. For a long time, just skating in the Olympics had been my goal because not many Koreans had done it.

For an athlete myself, it is especially meaningful for our country to host an Olympics. Every athlete hopes to participate in an Olympics, so I still can't believe the games of dreams is going to take place in Korea.

What I miss the most is chatting with my friends and family and having a good laugh over a simple meal.

The Olympics is the biggest competition for all athletes and an unforgettable event.

If I give up my career as a skater simply because I fear I won't show my best performance, I would be really sorry later in life.

Even in the hardest circumstances, dreams can give you the courage to live, and I hope I can share that message with children in need.

People expect that I'll be just perfect on ice, and that's not the case. I make mistakes, too. When I review my performance, sometimes I feel I did awful. That's the whole part of the process of what people see when I'm performing.

If, by any chance, I get to perform, then it would be a great honor for me. Especially because performing in the Olympics in your country doesn't happen to many skaters.

Building a better life for every child is a lot harder than becoming a world champion. Both goals take dedication and commitment.

I always wanted to be Olympic champion and do clean programs.

I have been compared to Mao since we were both junior skaters. We've felt the rivalry since then, so we wanted to avoid each other. However, she has been my motivation.

Korean audiences are amazing. The fans scream so loud, and that really surprises skaters when they first perform in my shows.

My coaches have told me my muscles and body structure are perfect for skating.

Watching previous figure skaters, I always wondered why they cried after their performance.

L.A. is a city that has given me great support for skating.

I love figure skating. It's what I'm good at.

I love weekends. Just like everyone else, I get to rest on weekends and go out with friends. I hate Mondays.

I like to be just an athlete, but if I go to competition and compete, I love to be a star, maybe.

The Vancouver Olympics was the first competition where I completed the short and free programs without any mistakes, and that in itself was a huge achievement.

After I won the Olympics, like any gold medalist, I did feel some emptiness in my heart. I did think about coming back to the ice for a long time. What motivated me is skating is something I am best at and I love the most. So I want to give it one more try.

I get tired too, just like everybody else. Sometimes I tell people that, but all I get is people saying that being vulnerable and weak is just not like me. I rarely get the response of emotional support I want. But sometimes I need it.

When I came back on the rink in 2012, I set a goal of wrapping up my career well rather than just winning medals. I'm not preparing for any special skills for Sochi because I don't feel like they are necessary.