Kristi Yamaguchi Quotes

The experience of being an Olympian is one that can never be taken away from you.

Going to the Olympic Games is the greatest experience anybody could have, and you just don't want to let yourself down.

I remember seeing the Olympics when I was 13. I always wanted to know how it felt to stand on top of the podium hearing your country's anthem while watching your flag being raised in something you poured your heart and soul into.

Just going to the Olympics would be a dream come true. I could finish last, and it would still be an amazing experience.

It wasn't until '79 I won my first amateur championship, and then, by '81, I was 14, and I won my first world championship, which was amazing to me, and in a very real sense, that was the first real victory I had.

Like every other athlete, I always dreamt of playing at the Olympics, and it feels really good to see that dream materialize.

Winning is great, but being able to finish my last Olympic Games on American soil was very important. Even though I was injured, I didn't let my psyche get the best of me and cause me to doubt myself, so I was willing to pull every muscle in my body in '96 in order to get the job done and I came away with the bronze medal.

How many people do you know who've had their dream come true? You're looking at one.

It means a lot to be an Olympian. I'm obviously so grateful and feel so lucky I was able to achieve my dream of winning an Olympic gold medal.

To be part of something special, to be an Olympian and have the chance to win a medal - it's an amazing feeling.

For me, back in Sydney, it was just being there and going out and beating Alexander Karelin, 13-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist. It was everything for me.

Making the Olympic team was the biggest thing I've ever accomplished. That was something I had to wait four years to accomplish.

I am very happy my Olympic dream has come true.

My ultimate dream was to get to the Olympics. I never thought I would come away with two gold medals.

While growing up, my dream and my goal was to win an Olympic gold medal. I did that, and both times, they were the proudest moments in my amateur career.

Getting to the Olympic Games was my gold medal.

I don't know how many people really knew who I was before the Olympics and that's the fun thing of the Olympics - you get to know someone who captures your heart, hopefully.

I want to thank my mother and my father for teaching me to have a dream. You are seeing my dream come true.

I am glad. I am now an Olympic medallist.

For all the marathons I've run, including the Ironmans that I've run, immediately after the race, I clean myself up, do whatever I need to do to make sure I'm okay, and I get right back out there, and I cheer people on. Because it's the people who come in late in the race I find most inspiring.

I've always been working just to be a world champion and it's a dream come true.

Growing up, Michael Jordan was my Olympic hero.

I still can't believe I'm an Olympic athlete.

Coming in as a veteran, I'd like to finish with a gold medal.

I always look back to my first Olympic medal in 2004 in Athens. I was very new to the sport, and it was my first big win at the Olympics.