The only reason we make good role models is because you guys look up to athletes and we can influence you in positive ways. But the real role models should be your parents and teachers!

Unfortunately the world is what it is now. People don't get along for whatever reason. As professional athletes in a way we're almost ambassadors for peace because sports brings everyone together.

I have long been one of those tedious people who rails against the coronation of 'student-athletes.' I have heard the argument that big-time athletics bring in loads of money to universities. I don't believe the money goes anywhere other than back into the sports teams but that's another story.

I have plenty of money unlike other Hollywood celebrities or athletes that have not invested well.

I am very proud of my mom and consider her the most courageous woman I know. With perseverance sacrifice and hard work she raised a family of Olympic athletes and gave us the tools and the spirit to succeed. That is something that my brothers and I will always be thankful for.

I think marriage and athletes is a bad combination.

It's extremely hard for athletes to accept what's happened to them sometimes. It's hard to be beaten by a small margin and I've spoken with athletes who for years afterward have been tormented by the knowledge that had they done something ever so slightly different they could have been one-ten-thousandth of a second quicker.

Universities exist to transmit knowledge and understanding of ideas and values to students not to provide entertainment for spectators or employment for athletes.

That's one of the reasons I moved to Florida. Of course the main reason is the weather and the training. But there's more jealousy in Switzerland because it's so little and they don't have so many athletes.

Athletes tend to have less of a sense of humor than most people. They are heroes to so many. That might be part of it.

Personal technology has given us the freedom of being able to do whatever we want - and in the case of celebrities and athletes whomever they want. But it can also serve as a humiliation jetpack.

When you become famous you start getting invites to parties where there are famous athletes and famous rock stars politicians people who have tremendous power and affluence. It's not in my DNA but certainly I have been exposed to it.

I firmly believe that all human beings have access to extraordinary energies and powers. Judging from accounts of mystical experience heightened creativity or exceptional performance by athletes and artists we harbor a greater life than we know.

I feel sorry sometimes for these sportsmen and women who put in just as much effort as the footballers. For example athletes train at least as hard as footballers but have to be happy if they can earn enough to finance a decent education.

The London Games will be designed for the athletes and we will provide them with the very best venues and the very best conditions to pursue their sporting dreams in London.

Too many athletes are living in a tiny window. They have no vision for themselves - what they can be outside of football and what they can mean to a community. They just don't know any better. My hopes and dreams are unlimited.

My daughter's mother and I are no longer dating and the people I'm most likely to date are those around me who are athletes.

To go to hospitals and see people fight and overcome cystic fibrosis or cancer or any number of illnesses is to see courage that is humbling. And athletes constantly need to be humbled.

Athletes are very cool to me.

I think exercise tests us in so many ways our skills our hearts our ability to bounce back after setbacks. This is the inner beauty of sports and competition and it can serve us all well as adult athletes.

You'd like more people to recognise what you do is special. But I take the attitude that the best thing I can do for my sport is to be the best at it. The best way people will come to recognise that track and field is a great sport is to see athletes excelling at it. Which is what I intend to do.

I do like athletes as they have amazing self-discipline.

The things that people do now in sports you can't even believe. These are complete total athletes. To see what human beings can do in the highest level is amazing.

I'd like to look like Madonna when I'm her age. I also look at athletes and love their bodies. I've always wanted to be muscly not skinny. A lot of women yo-yo around but I'm always aware if I'm getting a bit out of shape. I never look at the scales but I can just tell. It goes on my tum and bum.