Having so many close calls in my career, it was such an awesome feeling to get that first world title.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I had a great season and truly enjoyed competing around the world - from Monaco, where I managed to establish a world record, to Beijing, where I finally captured my first world outdoor title.
I became number one just after the World Championships in India. I was very young then, and I remember it was just a great feeling, my first World Championship.
I'm so proud, and it feels brilliant to be a world champion.
By far, the best moment of my big league career was when I caught the last out at the World Series.
Crossing the line and being world champion, I've always dreamt about it, and now I've done it. It's quite a surreal feeling, but obviously very special.
It wasn't until '79 I won my first amateur championship, and then, by '81, I was 14, and I won my first world championship, which was amazing to me, and in a very real sense, that was the first real victory I had.
The opportunity to be a part of the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games in Rio is a huge milestone in my career, and it will be the biggest performance of my life.
I feel like winning a world championship was a hurdle I had to get over.
I've been on the tour for 12 years, and the big dream has always been to get a world title.
I didn't know I was the first woman to have won three world titles, but hey, that's awesome!