To even get to the Olympics, I have to qualify for the 2013 World Championships and the standard is high. I know I am always going to be a few points behind the top guys.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
That people believe I can be Olympic champ, it just spurs me on.
The big push for me is the Olympics this year. If I'm healthy, I'm not worried about my ranking. I think I can hit the ball. It's just about my body cooperating. It's about being able to play matches in a row. Right now, I'm not sure how much I can do with that, but we'll see.
I've been to three Olympics and I don't feel I've ever quite achieved my best at any of them.
There's so many levels. You can rise on the day to win a national event or a world title but the level you need to rise to win an Olympics Games is another one altogether.
No one put pressure on me to go to the Olympics; once I'd got the qualifying mark, I just couldn't say no.
This sport gives you the highest highs and the lowest lows.
I'm a decent table tennis player, but if you were to put me up against any of the guys you see on television at the Olympics, I'd be lucky to get a couple of points.
It's kind of nice in some ways having an Olympic Trials where I finished second. You can kind of go in more under the radar facing a 2:03 guy and facing a lot of dudes who are faster than I am, whereas, before Beijing, I had one of the top 10 times in the field, or something like that.
I don't rank competitions - every single one is the Olympics to me.
I am not trying my best because it is the Olympics. I try my best always.