“For any athlete growing up, the Olympics is the one thing you watch wi...” — Abby Wambach Quote

For any athlete growing up, the Olympics is the one thing you watch with your family, and it's the one thing you dream about. Seeing your country's flag go up as you get a gold medal is the best thing you can achieve.

When I was really young, the women's national team wasn't on a grand media stage, so my role models were male basketball and male American football players.

I think I take on a little more responsibility when push comes to shove. I'm not scared to fail.

Sometimes when you fail, it allows you the opportunity to grow more motivation and get more intense about your training.

If your body needs certain food, you have to give it to it. And as an athlete, if I'm doing 100 miles a week and working out, if I eat bad food one day, it's not bad for me because I burn it off.

As an athlete, I'd average four hours a day. It doesn't sound like a lot when some people say they're training for 10 hours, but theirs includes lunch, massage and breaks. My four hours was packed with work.

I have been an athlete for much of my life starting at the age of 4.

If you look at any superior athlete, you will find a strong parental influence. Parents introduce their children to a sport, and then they support them.