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Holding an Olympic Games means evoking history.

Records are there to be broken. Lots of people would love to swap their world record for an Olympic medal, but for me, my medals are there forever and ever, and that's what does it for me.

With athletics, you put all that training in for only two major championships a year and the Olympics every four years. So when you get on top of the podium, it is relief and excitement and... Oh! it has all been worthwhile... the hard work, the sacrifices.

I really wanted to come into the Olympics.

The Olympics are only once every four years, so you have to take advantage of all your opportunities, both to be an inspiration to people and help support your sponsors who help you.

You hit one level of the sport, and then you want to get to the next level. Until, eventually, the Olympics becomes part of that dream, part of that goal set and the mindset of wanting to get there. And then you realize there's so much incredible hard work and determination and effort that you need to put in along the way.

The Olympics is about showing what you've done with your life, your dream as an athlete and sharing that with the world.

I always thought, it would be neat to make the Olympic team.

When I chose athletics, I knew I wanted to be Olympic champion, and now I have done it in London.

Getting to know athletes from all over the planet is a big part of the Olympic experience.