I don't do athletics for any other reason than achieving certain distances, certain titles and goals in my head.

That people believe I can be Olympic champ, it just spurs me on.

I always said I wanted an Olympic medal. It's the pinnacle of any athlete's career.

I used to play football with a load of lads, and I would be like a secret agent going out with a hat on so they wouldn't see my hair in a bun.

Obviously, when you're up against somebody you don't like there's extra motivation, but I don't think any person going for an Olympic gold is going to put friendship first.

It's very easy to run a good 200 m. after an appalling shot put.

I can handle coming fifth as long as I know I've given my all out there and have no regrets.

The heptathlon is made up of seven events, and people have strengths and weaknesses.

It's a huge step up from the European Indoor Championships to being world outdoor gold medallist.

You can only train three or four hours a day, so what do you do with the other 20 hours?

We are all trying to achieve our dreams.

You can be in the shape of your life, and then injury strikes. So you have to grab your opportunities.

If something is mine, then I want to keep it.

You can exercise anytime, anywhere. It doesn't have to be the gym.

I want to lay all my cards out on the table and walk away with no regrets.

I can't change my personality. I'll always smile, but I'll be more focused.

All those teams I was on that were successful were the ones that everyone had love for each other and had fun. Things that seem minuscule - joking around, laughing, conversing, all those things that seem childish - that is what builds camaraderie.

I work hard on my game.

You just gotta change your game to the environment.

You've gotta play a head game; especially blocking shots, you've gotta make it hard. You're playing against the best of the best: they're not gonna go straight to the basket, do a layup. You've gotta lure them into some shots.

I love Minnesota. The cold is fine with me, being from New Jersey.

Marc Gasol, he's one of the hardest people to guard. His ability to pass, shoot, and his size is something that can be a benefit to him a lot.

When you're in part of the same draft class, you always have a certain connection that not many other people can have with each other.

Growing up, I'd always been told that my biggest weakness was my body and how that was probably going to hold me back from accomplishing my dreams.