I've been through a lot of things in my personal and family life. That turned me into a fighter. I always strive to be the best I possibly can.

I think it's my personality to overcome things, learn from them and become stronger, both personally and professionally. To be honest, I welcome those hardships.

There are so many different walks of life, so many different personalities in the world. And no longer do you have to be a chameleon and try and adapt to that environment - you can truly be yourself.

My life is a beautiful struggle.

I am pushed by my critics. I don't want to say I want to prove them wrong, but it pushes me on the field to play with a chip on my shoulder, and I play best when I have a chip on my shoulder.

One thing I've learned through all the ups and downs is that if you're doing things right, then you have a core group of people. Not just a core group like your homies or your buddies, but a group of people that has a good influence on you, who you respect and admire, and you know that if they're on your side, you're doing something right.

I take everything with a grain of salt.

My confidence comes from the daily grind - training my butt off day in and day out.

I am proud of who I am, and nobody's going to steal that.

I like to read books and be alone; I'm not social butterfly person.

I know I can't dance. I am the worst dancer. I have no rhythm. I just do step-and-snap. I love it in the privacy of my own home and every once in a while at a club. But singing and dancing are my two greatest fears.

I try to live my life one day at a time, and if I look too far in advance, I get really stressed.

I have an attitude. It's what I do. I'm edgy. I have an attitude.

I played in Europe and it was a great experience, not just because of my team-mates and the coaches we had, but from the fans and the city itself - I played in Gothenburg and I played in Lyon and soccer was everywhere.

I think the concept of seeking fame and fortune in women's football in the States is a bit idyllic. Look at all the teams in America that have folded, and the leagues.

I never go on Facebook! I like, haven't confirmed anybody to be my friend on Facebook. I have lots of friends; I'm just really bad at Facebook.

My personal life is in the spotlight, but people say what they want to say. The truth isn't in the spotlight, I should say. I'm in the spotlight, but not the truth.

I don't need a captain's band to lead a team to victory.

Athletes are extremists. When they're training, it's laser focus.

Of course Seattle loves soccer. You can see from the men's Seattle Sounders team.

I think people have different definitions of team unity. My definition is doing whatever it takes to win, what makes a great team; it's performance on the field, respect on the field.

I have a problem with players who don't take the loss personally. At a professional level you should - it's our job, it's our livelihood, it's who we are at this level. Every loss should be taken that personal.

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.

A lot of people think I'm naturally confident. I am not naturally confident!

I wear my dad's cross. It's very important to me. I hang it in my locker before each game.

I'm a nerd at heart.

I need a life outside of soccer. So I very much welcome, you know, new love interests and dating and friends and family.

In truth, 2007 was the hardest year of my life. I lost my best friend. I lost my father.

Being responsible and taking care of your body is truly how you make your pay cheque, how you excel and succeed in your lifelong goals, so for me it's just an everyday lifestyle.

I think it's my personality to overcome things, learn from them and become stronger, both personally and professionally.

With each year that's gone by, and as I grow up and get older, I've become more mature, of course, but you have a sense of who you are, and you find confidence in that.

My father showed me so much love. He showed my brother so much love.

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.

I still don't buy the idea that I'm a 'sex symbol.'

I burn so many calories when I work out that I don't really count calories or necessarily try and stay away from anything.

No one wants to lose, period. It should hurt, it should sting, and you don't want to feel that feeling again.

I think the concept of seeking fame and fortune in women's football in the States is a bit idyllic.

I've had marriage proposals, invitations to military balls and even a few prom offers from 18-year-old boys.

My father showed me so much love. He showed my brother so much love. He just, he had a rough life. You know, he grew up in a boys home in the Bronx. He didn't really know his own family. So I couldn't hold it against him that he didn't know how to parent. He didn't know how to be the perfect husband. But he loved as much as he could.

I don't just want to focus on soccer, soccer, soccer. You're going to look back 20 years from now and of course you're going to remember the games. But I'm going to remember seeing my family in the stands.

London 2012 is all about winning a medal. Not just any medal, the gold medal.

My father was never around. But I glorified my father, and I was always daddy's little girl. He was my first soccer coach.

In front of the world, all of a sudden I'm a great athlete and I'm put into an environment with 25 other women and I'm expected to go to team meals, team functions.

Every athlete acquires routines as a way to help control nerves.

When I did 'Dancing With the Stars,' everyone in Hollywood was saying I had too much muscle.

You're always going to survive the pain of loss. I can live with that confidence inside of me.

I never felt the same passion for the game in the States and there were a lot of headaches, a lot of obstacles to overcome - it didn't just run itself for the love of the game because soccer is not the No. 1 sport as it is in Europe.

When the Olympics and World Cups come around, that's when you see the real outpouring of support that there really is for female football.

I just want to stay in my hotel room, read my book. I enjoy that private time.

I'm just going to embrace every experience.