Mary Lou Retton

In the dressing room, I always put on my right shoe first. Same thing for my right wristband.

For six years, I kept my five Olympic medals wrapped in a plastic bread bag beneath my bed.

You give up your childhood. You miss proms and games and high-school events, and people say it’s awful… I say it was a good trade. You miss something but I think I gained more than I lost.

I love her attitude, but as much as I’d like to bring my medals to a speech or appearance, I never do.

Former Olympians also get paid to make appearances. Many of them won their medals in an era when Olympic success didn’t go hand-in-hand with financial success.

For athletes, the Olympics are the ultimate test of their worth.

Many medal winners dream of competing in a sport other than the one they’re famous for.

Fragile egos are put on the line every day.

As simple as it sounds, we all must try to be the best person we can: by making the best choices, by making the most of the talents we’ve been given.

If I had a bad performance in a particular leotard, I threw it in the trash.

Having a home away from the media glare is important to world-class athletes.

Many athletes competing in Atlanta wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for corporate support.

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

As a kid, I was a pretty good little sprinter.

Pay-per-view would deprive many kids of the delight of seeing the Olympics.

Companies that support sports developmental programs in our communities should also be applauded.

The endorsement game has been very good to me.

That’s because the International Olympic Committee has a policy of never replacing medals.

In L.A., we had a game room with a new sensation called Pac-Man.

I usually don’t mind giving autographs, but when hundreds of folks with paper and pen start coming at you, it’s time to seek shelter.

Be cocky. Walk into the Georgia Dome like you own it.

It’s going to be really weird when I’m 80 years old, in a walker, and people are still calling me America’s sweetheart. We need a new one.