I always got my work done before playing.

I didn’t get an athletics scholarship at a major school.

My father was also a principal of a school and mother was a curriculum advisor. Both were educators.

Stretching was a major part of my preparation.

I always had to keep improving my skills in order to remain competitive and keep winning.

My concentration level blocks out everything. Concentration is why some athletes are better than others. You develop that concentration in training and concentrate in a meet.

I went to Moorehouse College. There was no track and field there.

The joint lubrication was not what it was when I was competing, and I decided that not having arthritis or rheumatism for the rest of my life was a lot more important to me than returning to the track.

I overcame size with mechanics.

In digital world, sport provides opportunity to bring people together.

Both parents supported my becoming a world class athlete.

I was always more of an academic than a jock.

My father was an all-American football player.

Lots of people let it go by and never accomplish what they want. I just wanted to see what I could do.

I was always a mean and lean athlete – not tall – not large.

In particular, I studied German and Russian biomechanics.

I wanted to go to medical school. But, I never got a college scholarship.

I used biomechanics to save time when I was competing.

One of my major competitors was Harold Smith. Smith beat me in 1977. I was loafing during that competition.

I always got my work done before playing.

I never struggled with injury problems because of my preparation – in particular my stretching.