Jackie Joyner-Kersee

“Ask any athlete: We all hurt at times. I'm asking my body to go through seven different tasks. To ask it not to ache would be too much.”

“Some people are embarrassed to say they came from East St. Louis, Ill., but now more people want to claim it. I grew up in a community center and I knew what it gave me. I always knew I wanted to give back and help people because people helped me.”

“There are few restrictions on your life with asthma, as long as you take care of yourself.”

“I do not take steroids. I never have. It's sad to me that people want to point fingers. I don't do that. That's not me. I wouldn't feel like a human being.”

“I might attempt Zumba. I haven't yet, but I thought it would be a lot of fun and different.”

“There are many women who came before me who didn't really have the same opportunities that I have had. That's why I always wanted to be a great ambassador - not only today's generation - but for the women who really didn't have a voice, but who paved the way for me.”

“I have this burning desire to get out there and do my best. It's as if I'm keeping it all in a little bottle, and it's all going to come out when I do the best I'm capable of doing.”

“Age is no barrier. It's a limitation you put on your mind.”

“Competing in both track and field and basketball for the Bruins I have a lot of great memories to choose from. But my all-time favorite moment in collegiate sports has to be in 1982 when we won UCLA's first NCAA title in track.”

“Even at 10 or 12, I was a hot, fast little cheerleader.”

“People assuming that because I'm a great athlete, I can dance. But no. My rhythm is off a little bit.”

“It's better to look ahead and prepare, than to look back and regret.”