Quotes from Mirai Nagasu

I think being in the public eye has made me more determined than other people to show that I do belong at the top, and I believe I am one of the hardest-working people at the rink. I feel like I have always been that way, but sometimes I just get in my own way.

Daisuke Takahashi has really good footwork.

I've always been an A or B student. When I get a B, I freak out a little bit!

I'm really good at window shopping, or I'll go into a store and just choose one thing.

In the history of sport in general, people stick around. Look at Shaun White and Lindsey Vonn just continue on, Olympic cycle after Olympic cycle; that is why they are famous.

I tell my boyfriend that... we should get a ranch so we can just adopt all the dogs that need homes, and they can just run around all day.

Not only would my parents work full hours, my parents both woke up at 5 A.M. My dad left the house at 5 A.M. to go to the fish market to pick out his own fish, and my mom woke up at 5 A.M. to wake me up in order to get me ready for skating before school.

I have a great work ethic because I've watched my parents work super hard.

I just want to redeem myself and show the world that... it wasn't a fluke that I won at nationals. I can compete on the international stage as well.

Being the heavy favorite is not always a good thing because of the amount of pressure on an athlete.

I can snap my toes. Everyone keeps asking me this, but I know it's kind of weird, but I think it's fun that I can snap my toes.

Skating becomes more important to me every year. It's obviously harder as age takes a toll on the body and the brain, and I think because of that, competing becomes much more difficult. That's why those who stick around are always so appreciative of others' skating because we know how much work goes into it.

Everyone has been injured, regardless of whether they're an athlete or not.

It's been exciting to share my story for people to relate to me and reach out.

It's easy to look into the future and worry about the past.

As athletes, we want to represent our country to the best of our ability.

My parents are super excited that they've produced an Olympian. I don't think they ever would have imagined this would happen in a million years, so I hope I represent not only Team U.S.A., but the Japanese-American culture and my family as well.

When I started not training as hard and doing what I needed to do, everyone else improved without me improving.

For the American culture to evolve and include Asians is so amazing.

Whenever Michelle Kwan texts me or mentions my name, I'm like, 'Wow.' I still can't believe that this is someone who I grew up looking up to, and they know my name.

I don't even remember how many times I've sprained my ankle. I've had stress fractures galore and torn my PCL. You just take a little time off if you have the time, and if not, you keep training until you can take the time off.

You can train to be ready for the nerves, and we simulate it all the time, but it's never the same when it actually matters.

I got to meet Rachel Platten, who sings 'Fight Song,' I love that song.

I feel like the worst has happened to me, so what better person to skate to 'Madame Butterfly' than me?