I always liked running as a kid. You know how eating chocolate or ice cream makes you feel good? That's the same way that running and competing makes me feel.

I wouldn't say there was a moment of realization when I wanted to be a runner it was always just something I was.

The thing I like about decathlon is also the thing I dislike: It's the maximum challenge, but also the maximum frustration.

The desire definitely comes from within. There are only a few people who make it to this level and those are the ones who have that innate desire.

It's important not to make the gold medal bigger than it is.

I want to see where I measure up against everyone in the world and everyone who has ever competed in the sport, and there's that innate sense of wanting to challenge myself. I'm competitive in all aspects.

To do the best that I possibly could in my world makes me pretty happy.

When I see my mom in the stands, it always pushes me to succeed.

I knew I could compete with most people in high school. It didn't quite give me an attitude, but it made me think I didn't have to try hard sometimes.

I'm not maximized yet.

There's never going to be a decathlon that you're going to have 10 events that your satisfied with. You're always, always going to be dissatisfied in something, and that always draws you back to try to retry that the next time you do a decathlon. It's like you go for the perfect 10.