All I had was wrestling. If I'm not good at the only thing I have in life, I've got to get better at it.

I love kids - they're so carefree and always put a smile on my face.

I'd definitely like to give back. I know a lot of kids watch college wrestling, and a lot of kids watch me, want to meet me and introduce themselves.

I have never been affected by terror, but here in Iran, I have never felt any ill will toward me - the opposite, actually.

I've seen 'Cars' and 'Cars 2' about 1,500 times a piece.

I like movies with superheroes - one of my favorite movies of all time was 'The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.'

My one and only focus at the Olympic Games is to win a gold medal.

You know what's cooler than being the richest guy in the room? Being the toughest guy in the room.

I love legends. I love reading up on the greats in their time period. I think, 'Man, what it would be like to live when they were competing and see them at their best!'

Every single time I get on the mat, every tournament, I get to see what I'm made of, how tough I am, where my desire is, and how hard I've worked.

Within the realm of wrestling, it's been the same every year - just continually trying to improve and evolve as a wrestler, putting myself in a position to not maintain but maximize my potential.

I am who I am and who I try to be - someone who loves wrestling and loves people.

I enjoy wrestling. I enjoy the sport. I get to go against the world's best athletes.

If I wrestle in 2020, I want it to be my own decision and not the IOC's.

It's easy to be selfish and focus on what you have to do and what you need to do to accomplish your goals and be like, 'I'll give back later,' but there's no better time than now.

There's always an opportunity to be your best until I hang up my shoes.

Within a match, there's so many things that happen that could ultimately determine the outcome: You reach too much with your right hand, you step forward with your left leg, you get your head out of position.

People need to feel like their heroes are human, not on the mat but in the world. The more people can see that, the more they can understand that they're capable of doing great things as well.

There's a pride in representing your country on a stage like the sport of wrestling, which I've done since I was five years old. There's nothing that can deter me other than my own decision to leave the sport.

I've got a home. I've got a wife. I've got everything I need.

I think a lot of guys get out of wrestling for financial incentive to go to the UFC, but I'm doing well.

I'm not a big guy that watches technique from my opponents. I try to do what I do best and hope that my stuff is better than their best stuff.

Believe it or not, my goal was always to play in the NFL.

I was an All-American at three different weight classes in college. Started off at 149, then 157, and then finished up my senior year at 165.

For Americans, of course, it's football, basketball, and baseball. We live for it. In many ways, it sums up who we are. In Iran, it's all about wrestling. The patriotism toward their country comes out in the way they wrestle, so it makes sense why they're the best.

I don't describe myself as a nationalist, but I do love my country.

I've become close with Masoud Esmaeilpour and consider him a friend. We send each other messages from time to time on Instagram, checking in to see how the other is doing. Whenever I see him, he's always a gentleman, giving me tips about my next opponent. There is a tremendous amount of respect in our friendship.

I've dreamed on numerous occasions that I've lost the biggest event in my life, and there was absolutely nothing that I could do about it.

The way the podium is situated in wrestling, the first place spot is the center. So if I'm in a bathroom, I'll look for the first place urinal.

I have wrestled in almost every tournament in the world. I've won the Olympics, NCAAs, and World Championships, but none of those can truly compare to the feeling I felt when I won my first and only state championship my senior year of high school.

High school wrestling is awesome.

I take a lot of pride in beating guys like Kyle Dake or David Taylor or these guys who have been basically bred to do this from Day 1. The best camps, the best high schools, the best universities. I never had that. It's not necessary, but I never had any of the frills a lot of those guys had.

It is very important to have deep friendships of the opposite sex to learn so much about yourself and what you need as a human.

I have a tattoo on my arm that says, 'Would you be proud to die this way?' And that's my reminder to continue to treat people well and love people, and if I took my last breath right now, would I be happy with who I am?

This is all I wanna do; I want to entertain. I want to make music. I want do film.

There are over 400 parks in all 50 states that represent our country and that are enriched with stories that tell about how our country became what it is today. There is a lot of history frozen in these places.

What I learned growing up in Red Mountain Theatre Company is real power and time management and how to represent myself well. How to show up earlier and stay later. Red Mountain Theatre Company, in my opinion, is the most incredible theater conservatory in the world.

I like people to be honest and transparent. It bothers me when people feel the need to embellish stories to make themselves look better.

Never find yourself bored at work.

I've always, always loved dancing.

I've worked at a Game Stop and had my service turned down before because of the color of my skin. And it's a shame.

'Secret Life' is my guilty pleasure.

I moisturize head to toe daily.

I take constructive criticism really well.

I'm a massive 'Mario' fan in general.

My relationship with God and my parents, that's what keeps me together. I know that everything could end as soon as it starts.

I fell in love with art and music and dance and acting and how all those things can cultivate something really special and unique - depending on the performance and the show. That really kind of helped me develop my love of theater.

I love my people. I love my family.

I kind of adopt family friends and take people in.

Prioritize your family.