That's what has always been good about track. The goal is very clearly defined: Try to win. Get the gold medal. And I'm able to put my energy toward that.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I was running track early in my years and I was breaking track records in sprint running. I was training and I wanted to be in the Olympics. I thought I was going to be able to win a gold medal, and my mind was pretty much set on 'this is what I want to do'.
Many track and field people know that if I stay relaxed and run my race like I'm supposed to, I will be the winner at the Olympic Games.
When you've won a gold medal and you're at the top of your sport, everyone's trying to beat you. I find that incredibly motivating.
This is a highly competitive sport, and we are all very passionate when we are on the track.
I definitely want to win a gold medal, that should be everybody's goal.
When people go to a track meet, they're looking for something, a world record, something that hasn't been done before. You get all this magnetic energy, people focusing on one thing at the same time. I really get excited about it. It makes me want to compete even more. It makes it all worthwhile, all the hours of hard work.
I have some really lofty goals that don't even scratch upon the Olympics.
After the 2013 World Championships, I had three goals for the Olympics: to swim 3:56 or better in the 400-meter freestyle, break 8:05 in the 800, and win gold in the 200. I achieved all of those, and soon, it will be time to set some new goals.
Every time I go out and race it's a goal to go out and run faster than I've done before.
So far, my goals stops at making an Olympic team, and then if that happens, then I'll jot down more goals.