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If you look at any superior athlete, you will find a strong parental influence. Parents introduce their children to a sport, and then they support them.

You know raising a family in the lifestyle of a professional athlete can be very difficult.

Past Olympians have a continuing role within the Olympic family.

The spirit of the Olympic movement is great for young people because it teaches them about the training and discipline required to compete. Even if they don't make the teams, they can rededicate their lives to the art of sport, discipline, and physical fitness.

I'd like my children to learn that anything is possible if you put your mind to it, and that when you make a decision to do something like pursuing the Olympics, like I have, it needs to be a family affair.

Athletes are sort of part of the community at large. They have to be dedicated to what they do, and go through lots of peaks and valleys. And there's a lot of training that goes into their careers. It's a struggle. Very dramatic.

The advice I will give my children, if and when they have Olympic aspirations, will be to go for it.

Athletes know kids look up to them, and it's important for athletes to be responsible.

When you're on the Olympic team at 15, you don't do anything else. There's no normal social development, and your decisions are made for you.

Support the athlete, encourage the team, help the coach. That's what good track parents do.