 And so figure skating was a great vehicle for me to kind of be competitive at something, without having to be big. |
| I just try to touch people's hearts in a way through skating, so they're not just witnessing a performance, they're feeling a performance and they're a part of it. |
| I don't think most teachers realize how much impact they have. |
| I had a ninth grade teacher who told me I was much smarter and much better than I was allowing myself to be. |
| I was nine-years-old when I first put on skates. |
| Adversity, and perseverance and all these things can shape you. They can give you a value and a self-esteem that is priceless. |
| When you turn professional, you become an entertainer, and like every other entertainer, you don't want to get a bad review. |
| Most other competitions are individual achievements, but the Olympic Games is something that belongs to everybody. |
| Male figure skating is different than female figure skating; we're not America's sweetheart. |
| When you're expected to win and you have the press saying that you are going to win the Olympic gold medal, and you're the only sure thing in the Olympics, it can undermine your confidence. |
| Fame is a very confusing thing, because you are recognized by a lot of people that you've never seen before, and they're at a great advantage. |
| That's what makes the Ryder Cup in golf so much better than the Masters or the U.S. Open. To be a part of something that is not about personal achievement, but about representing everyone and sharing it with the whole country, it's wonderful. |
| I was more interested in skating and the girls and traveling than I was in calculus. |
| And the fact that I liked to show off and be the center of attention really lends itself to figure skating very well. |
| Rationality is not one of this industry's attributes. |
| Half of figure skating is opinion, convincing judges. |
| Always try to maintain complete tolerance and always make an effort to give people more than they expect. |
| The high road is always respected. Honesty and integrity are always rewarded. |
| What was really funny is that as I got older all those guys who called me a sissy in junior high school wanted me to be their best friend because they wanted to meet all the girls that I knew in figure skating. |
| Everything that I've ever been able to accomplish in skating and in life has come out of adversity and perseverance. |
