As a competitive gymnast, my life has always been filled with challenges that would ultimately define my future. From day one, I was taught to be prepared at all costs.

I learned to take those experiences that were difficult in my life and in the adversity that I had overcome to use it for a positive change.

Training with Bela and Marta Karolyi took the joy out of the Olympics for me. I look back and feel there was a lot of verbal and physical abuse. For years, I felt it was my problem.

I had this sister that was born who was given up for adoption, and I never knew it.

Autographs and pictures do get a little old, but I don't mind if the people want it.

My parents enrolled me in a gymnastics class when I was three years old, and I just was drawn to gymnastics. I loved it. It was my playground, and I could run around and be free there.

Since my mother is an extremely devoted Christian Orthodox woman, she prayed a great deal and taught me how to pray.

In my very first interview, at nine years old, I said I wanted to be an Olympic gold medalist. That was the first time I said it out loud in front of somebody other than my parents.

I was 26 years old when I found out that I had a sister who I never knew existed.

If you have to say or do something controversial, aim so that people will hate that they love it and not love that they hate it.

My theology briefly Is that the universe Was dictated But not signed.

I've been the co-chair of the Non-Partisan Women's Caucus and vice-chair for several years, taking a leadership role in this women's organization.

When man lives under government, he is fallen, his worth is gone, and his nature tarnished.

I've never scored a goal in my life without getting a pass from someone else.

In this world the only opinion that holds court is prejudice.

Certainly I'm passionate and driven and quite relentless when I want something.

I can't act. I simply must be myself, do the things that seem natural to me. When I get with a director who wants me to act, I'll be lost.

We are a very colorful family. Everybody knows our mistakes. But I think that people can relate to all of our mistakes and all or good and bad points.

Repose in that peaceful, cool, calm, serene depth of your Being. You know, this is something immensely valuable and precious