Michelle Kwan quotes:

I got a call this morning, and it was from Nancy Kerrigan, wishing me luck. She wished me luck and sent me all her good wishes.

Skating takes up 70 percent of my time, school about 25 percent. Having fun and talking to my friends, 5 percent. It's hard. I envy other kids a lot of things, but I get a guilt trip when I'm not training.

I don't really remember a time younger than 5 years old that I didn't have skates on because all I can remember is every day, tying up my skates and a big smile on my face, excited to go on the ice.

When I look back at the world championships, I know there's a lot of room for improvement, I'm always up for a challenge. The Olympics, they don't define me, I've had some good and some bad. But it's all about the Olympic experience.

I actually prefer soothing music - and maybe that's the skater in me.

Because I'm pushing my body so hard already, the last thing I want to do is have music that's really too strong, in my head.

I had dreamed of being at the Olympics since I was 7 years old.

To represent your country is an honor and a great experience.

I want to see how far I can train. I have to see how far my body will go.

Literally falling on the ice and having to pick yourself up in front of thousands of people is not an easy thing to do. The thing that you learn is to pick yourself back up, to learn from your mistakes.

I needed to turn off the negative voice in my head - I was psyching myself out.

Sometimes my body is aching, but I always think, 'Why am I in this? Why do I love it so much?' That's what makes me persevere, that's what makes me keep on going.

What I love the most is getting on the ice and just popping in a fabulous CD and skating - all by myself, the rink completely empty, just me and the music.

When I was younger, I always dreamed of being a legend, to be remembered in figure skating.

It's incredible. Nine? Wow. I just remember winning my first one, getting the medal and the plate, the pin with the diamond for first place. My ninth title, I have no answer for that because I never thought it would be possible.

Skating is in my heart, not my head

I always thought after 2002 that I'd hang up my skates and turn professional and just go on tour and do shows. But I don't know when it is enough. I mean, I still enjoy it. I'm the luckiest girl alive that I get to perform in front of thousands of people, do what I love doing.

When I feel like I'm in a rut, I remember it's the little things in life that are important, like riding a bike with a friend or eating ice cream with my baby niece.

I didn't lose the gold. I won the silver.

Skating has given me so much that it's priceless.

You can always say, 'I wish I had landed that triple flip better, or I wish I didn't fall.' They're not regrets, just mistakes.

At 13, I was fearless. I looked at everything so positive. When you're older and been through it all, you know how bad it can get. There is a fear of failing.

And what is a gold medal? I'd never really thought about it before Nagano. Now I realize that it's a dream to strive for. I love my silver medal, because it stands for all my dreams and all I'm still capable of fulfilling

I would just love to be able to give back to figure skating.

If you have nothing in life but a good friend, you're rich.

There's a lot of emotions that always come out after a skate of a lifetime. I always start crying because there is so much buildup to that competition.

As I've gotten older and grown more independent, I think for myself, and that's how it should be.

Don't focus on the negative things that can happen, just think about the positive things.

I don't know secret to success, but I'm pretty sure the closest thing is preparation

I skated like it's a sport, went for everthing and just gave it my best shot. It turned out freat. I had nothing to lose. You might be the best in your heart, but not in other people's sight.

The one who wins all the time is great and powerful, but the one who had been trampled on and fallen is who I admire the most

When I look at the kids training today... I can tell which ones are going to do well. It's not necessarily the ones who have the most natural talent or who fall the least. Sometimes it's the kids who fall the most, and keep pulling themselves up and trying again.

Winning is not about how many medals you get-it's about accomplishing goals and just being the best you can be!

Work hard, be yourself, and have fun!

As an athlete, I've always been very proud to represent the United States.