Bonnie Blair

I love short track. I competed in short track, I was a world champion in 1986 but at that point in time it wasn't in the Olympic Games so I moved into long track. Short track is a blast to skate and it's a blast to watch.

The sport I love has taken me around the world and shown me many things.

What I've learned from my own journey, and from my family's experience with cancer, is how important it is to stay positive and move forward. Not every day is going to be perfect; that's life. But staying positive is going to get you to the next day.

I'm definitely going to miss hearing the sound of that gun.

My parents put skates on me at age 2, the way it should be if you're serious, and I've always liked it.

When you're in a sport like speed skating where the clock gives you the results, there is always a faster goal or a personal best to beat.

I just hope I can get another personal best. If I can do that, I'll be satisfied.

I was really happy with my race, though. I beat my personal best by 1.2 seconds.