I think that ballet and skating definitely go hand in hand, especially growing up at Ballet West, which is an incredible academy.

As a kid growing up, I didn't want to tell any of my classmates I did figure-skating because I knew they'd be like, 'Oh, you're a skater, you're gay, blah blah blah.' So I kept it to myself. Once I started getting to more of an elite level, I didn't really care what people thought, though.

I like the challenge and instant gratification of landing a new jump or learning a new element. That made me fall in love with the sport.

Half of learning a new element is just getting over the fear of doing it. Once you mentally prepare yourself enough to do the jump, that is really half the battle.

You go into every game knowing that somebody wants to compete with you and take your place. There is no easy option and you always have to prove yourself.

I know how much football means in England. They love it. That's why it's great to be here.

Time is always important; sometimes time doesn't always go along with patience. It is always important. You have to deal with it. It's part of football. Every decision is judged.

I was part of a writers' collective with 21 writers and filmmakers called the San Francisco Writers' Grotto. We had our own office space in this old converted dog and cat hospital, and we had a basketball hoop outside. I'd bring my dog to work every day and write.