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I was a perfectionist in gymnastics.

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.

That's what everybody remembers. They don't remember how many medals I won in my career. They remember the 10s.

I think gymnastics was associated with the 10. I thought that belonged to the sport, and somehow we gave it way.

It sounds funny, but the 2008 Olympics were something that just kind of happened, and I was lucky they came at a point when I was uninjured and well prepared. As a gymnast, you can't ask for much more.

The Vancouver Olympics was the first competition where I completed the short and free programs without any mistakes, and that in itself was a huge achievement.

In gymnastics, you have to be perfect every step along the way.

I won my first medal when I was nine years old. It was at the Boston Open.

As a 9th grader, I competed with the high school kids and out of 600 people, I finished 10th.

I have had a few turning points, the first day I entered a gymnastics school at age 6.