I was bribed into starting swimming with the promise of sweets and by being told that you can win medals. My mum had given me a bag of medals which she had won when she was young, so the idea of winning medals was very exciting.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
It's insane to have won all those things - not possible. But what I love is learning, which never stops and is nothing to do with the medals you've won.
The feeling of accomplishment welled up inside of me, three Olympic gold medals. I knew that was something nobody could ever take away from me, ever.
I feel like at the Olympics I gave the best performance of my life and I wasn't rewarded for that as an athlete. Yes, my fans and my mom were happy about it, but I didn't win that gold medal.
I want to win medals for myself.
In the '80 Olympics... people expected me to win. I was good enough to win, and I made a mistake and ended up second, which is pretty good, too.
Actually, I always dreamed about getting a gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle in Olympic swimming. I always thought that would be the epic award in sports to get.
I've dominated past competitions, but I've sweated blood and tears for every medal. I take nothing for granted, and I'm fully focused on doing my best.
Over the years, I've made many sacrifices to win two Olympic gold medals and put together winning streaks that will never be broken.
I won my first medal when I was nine years old. It was at the Boston Open.
I've never won many awards, I didn't get certificates for swimming or anything.