only way to maximize potential for performance is to be calm in the mind.

When you stand on the victory stand, you must be able to ask yourself: 'Did I win this medal?

When I did this three years ago, it was like death. When I did it last year, it was like near death. This year, it was just really hard.

said playing basketball would kill me. Well, not playing basketball was killing me.

When I step onto the court, I don't have to think about anything. If I have a problem off the court, I find that after I play, my mind is clearer and I can come up with a better solution. It's like therapy. It relaxes me and allows me to solve problems

I was lucky. My grandmother stepped up for me and said she would take responsibility for me and a compassionate juvenile judge took a chance and gave me one. They were getting ready to send me away to do real time, but they sent me instead to a juvenile alternative day school. And I guess that was the beginning of my turnaround.