Quotes from Denise Lewis

I did think I might be perimenopausal rather than pregnant.

Life presents us with lots of forks in the road - big choices that define what kind of a person we are and how successful we become.

I did ballet, tap and modern dance - I loved Janet Jackson with a passion - and I was good enough to star in lots of amateur shows.

The thing is athletes get more confidence the more they race, the more they are hitting personal targets - it just gives you confidence.

I love meandering down the streets of Tuscany and the food tastes like it's been kissed by the sun.

As a girl, I was a member of Birchfield Harriers, who had Kathy Cook, Tessa Sanderson and Sonia Lannaman in their team. Those were some of the finest athletes in the country, so it was great to see them up close.

Being a new mum at whatever age is testing and I think I've forgotten what it feels like.

I'd like to see a show about what happens to young sports stars who've been pushed too hard by their parents or coaches.

I like challenges. I like pushing my body.

Marriage is hard work, and it's not all romance and flowers.

I did the long jump and hurt my foot. It was a stress fracture in the left foot, which even now, 12 years on, is the bane of my life.

I'm not very good at eating fruit, so to make sure I get my five a day I often whiz up a smoothie in the blender for breakfast.

I like my glass of wine, but I work for it. You can't expect to maintain that sort of level of physique if you don't do something.

Let's face it, you get home from work and what's the first thing that comes off? It's your bra, isn't it? You don't even take the clothes off. You actually sort of pull it out one of the sleeves and then fling it off. You're free.

You never remember what you say to the Queen, she just has this aura about her.

I don't mind losing, but I do want to apply myself, I go for it.

You think of Ingrid Kristiansen, Liz McColgan, Sonia O'Sullivan, they were all pregnant just before big wins. But you don't know. I have no idea how long the hormone boost lasts.

When I was running as an athlete, I'd be looking at my heart rate, monitoring when it started to peak, when it plateaued. I'd make a note of the oxygen debt in my body and would always be working to a specific time.

I've been to many Games and Championships and the mascot plays a special part. It brings a certain energy to the event, to the brand and identity of the Games. Children gravitate towards it and it almost becomes the face of the Games if you like.

Success breeds success and the more you are around a healthy and thriving athletics team, the more the people who only think they can make semi-finals will be inspired to want to aim for finals and go for medals.

Mum was a disciplinarian. Raising a child on your own forces you to have to keep the boundaries tight.

I'm a big champion of talking about Britain's colonial past but the important thing is not hiding it away and giving a true account of history.

I'm always striving to be the best, and that works for me, but it might not be everyone's desire.

No, I didn't break a world record. No, I didn't win by a huge margin. But it's how you do in the battle. I've taken my place in history and I'm very proud of that.