It's amazing to me that they're cutting physical education programs in the school systems.Collection: Amazing
Everyone has obstacles, and you're not going to have the right answer or do the right thing every single time.
At the Olympics, you there to do a job. I feel you should take it seriously. You should be respectful. You are putting on the red-white-and-blue and going out there to perform for your country.
Floor exercise, the longest you run is two or three steps. In the vault, it's not a whole lot more than that.
For the most part I'll probably do floor exercise and balance beam. Those are the two things that I do.
Gymnastics is the type of sport where you can't take something that gives you more energy. Something may be great for the vault, but then you have the bars after it and you have to be more sedate for that.
I will be talking with gymnasts from some of the other countries. I will be getting a feel for what they're thinking and what they're doing. It should be a really great meet.
In gymnastics, the longest routine you do is a minute and a half, and that's pretty tough to get through.
The rate of childhood obesity is just ridiculous. Anytime I can get involved with teaching them how to get physical exercise, I want to help in any way possible.
There's not a whole lot of events out there on television, especially in the years between Olympic Games.
We typically don't choose our athletes until about a month prior to the Games because anything can happen.
When I go in to compete, whether it's gymnastics or anything else, I do my own thing. I compete with myself.
When you grow up on camera and in the public eye, you feel you have to put forth this image. I just took that to the extreme and there was a lot of pressure on me.
Doing your best is more important than being the best.Collection: Athlete
Everyone gets scared, and everyone falls. The key is to get right back up and try again.Collection: Motivational
Face each day with the expectation of achieving good, rather than the dread of falling short.Collection: Fall
There is always going to be a reason why you can't do something; your job is to constantly look for the reasons why you can achieve your dreams.Collection: Dream
Above all, you have to love what you are doing. You cannot fake passion. If you love it you can fight through the rough times and enjoy the good times.Collection: Passion
Gymnastics is a lot like life. You don't become an Elite gymnast by bickering and having a negative attitude. You have to be positive to get to that level.Collection: Attitude
There are no limits on your dreams if you're willing to work for it.Collection: Dream
Go into the sport because you have fun doing it, not because of 'what ifs' and dreams of gold medals. That way, no matter what happens, you win.Collection: Sports
It's important to have a plan, a big picture. You can deviate from it or change it completely, but it gives you something to work for.Collection: Motivational
You have to remember that no matter how big your goals or how many you have, there are going to be times when you miss by a little bit. You have to be realistic and flexible. One reason I have so many smaller goals is that even if my big goals don't happen, I've still achieved so much along the way, I don't feel the loss.Collection: Softball
Goals have to be realistic and flexible.Collection: Gymnastics
So if you think being thin is enough to succeed in gymnastics, you're wrong.Collection: Gymnastics
I will be talking with gymnasts from some of the other countries. I will be getting a feel for what they're thinking and what they're doing. It should be a really great meetCollection: Country
I think it's really important to look at the big picture instead of just one competitionCollection: Thinking
If you can't handle all the injuries and scars, choose a less demanding sport.Collection: Sports
I'm used to short distances and short bursts of energy; it was just fastestCollection: Distance