“My aspirations are a lot bigger for these Olympics compared to 2012. This round is much different; I’ve had a lot more time to prepare. I had the goal to go to London in 2012, but it didn’t seem real until I was on the team. But I’ve been looking forward to 2016 ever since.” ~Sam Mikulak
“This is the right time. I feel like in 2012 I was really passionate about making that Olympic team and giving it my all. I didn’t have that same feeling this year. I didn’t have the same desire. I wanted to concentrate on getting ready for college.” ~Kyla Ross (on her decision to retire from elite gymnastics)
“I really didn’t reach my full potential in London.” ~Gabby Douglas
“I think my personal life has changed a lot since 2012. My whole focus has shifted to doing it for myself, because my performance is the only thing that I can control. Last time I went to the Olympics, I was really focused on trying to win a medal, trying to get endorsement deals, trying to help my family get out of the Bronx, where I’m from. Which is not a bad reason, but it’s a lot of pressure, especially as a 19-year-old at your first Olympic Games.” ~John Orozco
“We are women. We say one thing and we change our mind. It happens all the time.” ~Oksana Chusovitina
“I came back doing the same things from London and they’re like ‘no, you can’t do that anymore’. And I’m like ‘well, what do you mean?’ And they’re like ‘it’s not gonna count’. And I was like ‘what do you mean it’s not gonna count?’” ~Gabby Douglas
“I believe that everything happens for a reason, and if I had medaled in the all-around in 2012, I may not be back training right now.” ~Aly Raisman
"Why am I being so positive about what just happened? It was so bad and I was mad that I was kind of trying to be like 'It's ok!" because it wasn't ok. It really wasn't, I let myself down, I let my country down. That's what it felt like in my heart. It was honestly like I had no emotion, I didn't even want to cry. I had nothing. I couldn't sleep for five days after. The fall just kept repeating in my head. It wasn't even me running, it was just the fall over and over and over. I couldn't sleep and I was just like why did that happen. And you know why it happened, is because it was supposed to happen. There is no reason. I had never fallen on that vault in my life. If you watch the video, I look at it like what went wrong? I don't know, I really don't know. There is no answer for me but I don't need to know the answer because I am the person I am today because of that fall. If you ask me if I could go back and win a gold, I would say no thank you. I love my silver medal." ~Mckayla Maroney (on her fall in EF)
"On the results it said my name in 3rd and everyone was coming up to me saying congratulations. Soon after they made the appeal, that's when I knew it was gonna change. I did make a big mistake that you normally don't see. So I'm not gonna blame the judges, the coach, or the gymnast. That day I didn't eat anything and I was very light on the event and sometimes you cannot control your moves because of that. To be honest I was very mad at myself, because again, without that mistake, I could have got a medal very easy." ~Catalina Ponor (on beam finals)
It breaks my heart when they show that clip of Bill Strauss crying at Olympic Trials when Elizabeth Price finished 4th.
"The biggest thing is just remembering what it felt like finishing the Olympic Games and not being satisfied coming home empty handed. I think that's enough motivation for the next couple of years." ~Jake Dalton
"I think she's the most amazing friend in the world. She was so supportive and so amazing and so nice. I feel like she handled it better than anyone else in the world could have... I can't thank her enough for how good of a sport she was." ~Aly Raisman (on Jordyn Wieber after prelims)
"The all- around competition, it didn't go as well as I could've hoped for and of course I wish I could've gotten that bronze medal. They did break the tie and it's a bummer that gymnastics is the only sport that breaks the tie out of any Olympic sport. But I was at least happy that Gabby won the gold medal." ~Aly Raisman
"Personally, I think I did crap at the Olympics. I didn't prove anything. I choked and I did terrible. But nobody sees it like that, I just personally feel like that. And I think I have to focus on what everyone else sees, that life isn't perfect and it's not gonna be an easy road to success." ~John Orozco
"The thing that I learned from London was trying to get into my bubble and not really worrying about the audience or even other countries that are competing beside me." ~John Orozco
"After Worlds... I was in Japan and I contacted my surgeon and said 'I fly back on this date and I need the surgery the next day.' It was actually funny because I hadn't spoken to him in years and he remembered who I was. All I said was 'I need the same surgery right away cause I need to start training for London.' He thought I was crazy but... in four months I was tumbling." ~Anna Li (on injury)
"Another highlight was last year at the Olympic Trials. Although it clearly wasn't my best performance, I ended my career with two standing ovations of almost 20,000 people. It was my first and only standing ovation in my career. It was so heart warming to see the fans on their feet cheering me on despite my poor performance. Of course I would have loved to have made a second Olympic team, but I believe everything happens for a reason." ~Nastia Liukin
