I was a crazy little seven-year-old. I used to get up an hour early to watch the big kids train. I thought, 'I must absorb their awesomeness.' That was my goal from when I was seven. I told my coach, 'I'm going to the Olympics.'

I have a very pessimistic view that every win takes you closer to a loss because no-one in the world can keep on winning forever.

I collect rings from every country that I compete in, and I swap them around and wear different ones occasionally. I have about 10.

When we were very, very young, I was actually better than Cate was at swimming, and I was not very humble and thought I was the greatest thing ever and rubbed it in her face a bit, and then she started trying really hard and started beating me.

People seem to read so much more nonfiction than fiction, and so it always gives me great pleasure to introduce a friend or family member to a novel I believe they'll cherish but might not otherwise have thought to pick up and read.

We live in a world of shifting values. The family is falling apart. Parents failing in what they ought to do.

I've always wanted a big family - not this big!

My husband's family is military. Preparation is just, from that family perspective, it's just a part of what makes sense to do. You buy insurance for your house; you have a go bag.