Michelle Kwan

In figure skating, you have four minutes to do your best. It's your time; you do your best.

Whatever you're fighting for, you go with full passion and love.

You see figure skaters fall all the time. It's the way you pick yourself back up and keep going.

You can always say, 'I wish I had landed that triple flip better, or I wish I didn't fall.' They're not regrets, just mistakes.

I tell aspiring young skaters to dream big, work hard, have fun, and follow their passion. It's simple to say never give up, but learn from your mistakes to keep growing.

The biggest lessons I learned were probably the times where I had the biggest setbacks and the biggest challenges - when I had the biggest jumps forward and lessons learned.

I always thought after 2002 that I'd hang up my skates and turn professional and just go on tour and do shows. But I don't know when it is enough. I mean, I still enjoy it. I'm the luckiest girl alive that I get to perform in front of thousands of people, do what I love doing.

I was so worried about winning, it was as if I was caught up in my own web.

Skating takes up 70 percent of my time, school about 25 percent. Having fun and talking to my friends, 5 percent. It's hard. I envy other kids a lot of things, but I get a guilt trip when I'm not training.

There's a lot of emotions that always come out after a skate of a lifetime. I always start crying because there is so much buildup to that competition.

I had dreamed of being at the Olympics since I was 7 years old.

As I've gotten older and grown more independent, I think for myself, and that's how it should be.

I'm a big eater.

What I love the most is getting on the ice and just popping in a fabulous CD and skating - all by myself, the rink completely empty, just me and the music.

Because I'm pushing my body so hard already, the last thing I want to do is have music that's really too strong, in my head.

I actually prefer soothing music - and maybe that's the skater in me.

To represent your country is an honor and a great experience.

Sometimes my body is aching, but I always think, 'Why am I in this? Why do I love it so much?' That's what makes me persevere, that's what makes me keep on going.

Skating has given me so much that it's priceless.

I got a call this morning, and it was from Nancy Kerrigan, wishing me luck. She wished me luck and sent me all her good wishes.