I showed everyone the medal and they said, 'Ooh, I can't believe how heavy it is,' Sometimes they were more interested in the medal than in me. I was like, 'Hey, what about me?' Sarah Hughes
I wasn't really expecting me to win the gold in this race. To get another medal for myself and for the U.S. was a pretty good thing to happen, I'd say. Bonnie Blair
I've learned that winning isn't everything, and it's more about the journey. But at the end of the day, I just want to stand on the podium with the gold medal. Hope Solo
If I bring back only one gold people are going to say it's a disappointment. But not too many of them own an Olympic gold medal so if I get one I'm going to be happy. Michael Phelps
It really means a lot that I won the gold medal - but I woke up the next morning expecting to feel different. I felt the same. Dan OBrien
It took putting one foot in front of the other every single day to get through it to the point where I made it back on the team and won a gold medal in 2008. Hope Solo
Many medal winners dream of competing in a sport other than the one they're famous for. Mary Lou Retton
My goal is one Olympic gold medal. Not many people in this world can say, 'I'm an Olympic gold medalist.' Michael Phelps
My skating is a very emotional thing that comes from the heart, never doing it for the medal. Debi Thomas
No matter what, like, I couldn't - I could break a world record, get an Olympic gold medal, and my mom would be, like, you could have done better. But you looked pretty. That's what she says all the time. Ryan Lochte
Olympic medals are the one medal that I don't have; I've won just about every other competition that I've been at. Eric Shanteau
Playing college soccer was going to be the top of my athletic feats. I wasn't going to the Olympics. I was a decent player, but it's because of hard work, not because I was Freddy Adu. I wouldn't have a medal from the Olympics if I wasn't in a chair. I wouldn't have gone to the Olympics and experienced the whole atmosphere. Mark Zupan
Since I started playing at the Olympics in 2000, I have always wanted to do a dress based on Wonder Woman. It should be interesting to wear. And hopefully, it will get me a gold medal.Venus Williams
That's the awesome part. Little girls now have a chance to look up and see women playing soccer, basketball, softball and now hockey - and know they can win a gold medal, too. Angela Ruggiero