I never dreamt of the Olympics growing up. It's not something that I watched on TV; it's not something my parents ever talked about.

Skating is really hard, especially women's skating where we're judged in little tiny dresses.

I aim to skate as clean as possible.

I know sometimes in the off-season I have to motivate myself to get on the ice because I know there's so long until the competitions begin again.

Before it was decided that I was going to be adopted, my mother was going to abort me. I was born with tangled legs; they never thought I'd be able to dance... without knowing it, as a child I overcame a lot thanks to really doting, loving parents and a great family and a hard work ethic on my part.

I'm from a single-parent family. My mom is like my mom and dad. She's my world.

I certainly don't walk around my home or being with my family and just using profane language all the time, but on stage, it's a constant.

My mom is real passionate and a family-first woman. She always told me that just because I can shoot a basketball better than someone else, I shouldn't think that I'm better than them. I know if I change, my friends and family would lay me down. She just wants to see her kids do right.