Male figure skating is different than female figure skating; we’re not America’s sweetheart.
From the fall of October, 1980 to March, 1984 I never lost a competition.
And the fact that I liked to show off and be the center of attention really lends itself to figure skating very well.
And so figure skating was a great vehicle for me to kind of be competitive at something, without having to be big.
Refined indifference is a sports psychology precept: train like there’s no tomorrow and then accept whatever happens. Once you step on the field realize that whatever is meant to be is meant to be.
Memories just get richer with time.
The Olympics in ’80 was phenomenal. It was my favorite memory of all competitive events, because it was brand new and it was exciting.
When you’re expected to win and you have the press saying that you are going to win the Olympic gold medal, and you’re the only sure thing in the Olympics, it can undermine your confidence.
So as an amateur Olympic competitor I loved criticism, because it made me better. But now as a professional I don’t really know how to channel it or where to take it, so I don’t take it quite as well.
I had a ninth grade teacher who told me I was much smarter and much better than I was allowing myself to be.
Fame is a very confusing thing, because you are recognized by a lot of people that you’ve never seen before, and they’re at a great advantage.
I’m very accessible. I don’t get into this ego thing.
But I never really thought that I would be extraordinarily successful at skating, it’s just something that happened, you know.
I just try to touch people’s hearts in a way through skating, so they’re not just witnessing a performance, they’re feeling a performance and they’re a part of it.
Rationality is not one of this industry’s attributes.
Always try to maintain complete tolerance and always make an effort to give people more then they expect.
A bad attitude is the only true handicap.
Each movement is only learned after you’ve perfected the one before it.
I don’t want to look back-I want to keep looking ahead. I’d hate for my defining moment to be my past.
I didn’t want to be the sissy figure skater, you know.
I don’t think most teachers realize how much impact they have.