Apolo had a hard time using his ankle, ... The U.S. coaches and USOC doctor unanimously advised him not to skate further events in order to protect his injured ankle and I agree 100 percent that this was the correct decision. |
For me it was the perfect race. I'm not a 500-meter specialist by any means. On this night, this occasion, this Olympic day, I was able to come through. |
I don't think you can pretend it [Sunday's miscue] didn't happen. I know it happened. Everybody knows it happened. But I have to become stronger from that somehow. |
I really wanted to set something up. People have questions about what I've been doing the past couple of years. I want them to know I'm excited to be here. I want to put a lot of things on the table. A lot of Koreans are not familiar with me. They only know what they see on the news or what somebody else says. I want to let them know a little bit about me and take it from there. |
I was ridiculed for my performance. My name was run through the mud. |
I wouldn't say that I always wear this particular shirt, but I do ALWAYS bring it with me to trips and competitions. |
It (stinks). I didn't make the final. I'm disappointed. I wanted to make that final. I feel like I could have made that final. Today just wasn't my day. |
It bothered me a lot. I was really, really bothered by it. I grew up around Asian culture. I'm just an athlete. I was trying to finish the race. A lot of it was built up by certain people (whom he declined to identify) using me. I have a lot of friends in Korea who have nothing against me at all. |
It sounds simple, but getting the proper rest really does increase my confidence and abilities on and off the track. Rest and relaxation is a critical component to competing at your best. With the improvements that are being made to our living space, I'm excited to come home to a place designed to help my performance. |
It's a very weird relationship because we all need each other to train. We push each other to be stronger, but sometimes we want to beat each other. We want to be the best. It's interesting. |
It's insanity. It all lasted about two years after Salt Lake. So the insanity continued until about 2004, but then I decided that I needed to keep things simple. I can't say I don't like it in the limelight. I enjoy it, because I have to. |
It's misguided. It is more like all of us vs. everybody. |
My social life is down to the minimum. I don't go out. I don't drink. My lifestyle is pretty boring. |
No death threats while I was in Korea nor leading up to the competition. Actually, a very high-ranking Korean speed-skating official was telling me that I may have sparked a fan club! How cool is that? |
On any day, anything can happen. |