At 14, you think you compete, you retire and you get a job. I didn't think gymnastics was a career that was going to change my life.

I remember before the Olympics, I was asked, 'What do you think you're going to do in the Olympics?' and I said, 'I'm hoping I'm going to win a medal, and, if possible, it's going to be a gold one.'

I remember everything from 1976. I remember I was 14, and I remember my routines.

Other kids had more talent, but I was the most focused.

Every generation comes with a unique athlete, I don't think anybody wants to be the next Nadia; they want to be themselves.

I was a perfectionist in gymnastics.

Uchimura is the greatest of all time.

We developed a system in Romania that was very successfully continued for a number of years, but I don't know if it was because of some conflict in the organisation or whether there was government interference... but somehow, they have forgotten the importance of raising gymnasts to be ready for every Olympics.

It's like someone important is missing from a party because you can't imagine an Olympic gymnastics competition without Romania.

Everything I do today is because of what I did when I was 14.

I hoped to win a medal and hoped it would be gold. I knew I was good but didn't know I would be the one to score something that had never been done before.

It was good to be a kid because I did not realise all the things that came with the success. Going to the Games, I was asked what I expected to do.

As an Olympic champion gymnast, I have always stayed involved in my sport.

We are not coaching on a daily basis because we often travel with our charity and commercial interests.

Of course, I grew up in Communist Romania, but I am happy to say that now our country is democratic, and prospering, since the revolution in 1989.

I worked hard in gymnastics since the time I was six years old until I retired at 23 years of age.

Of course, most people remember that I received the first perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics competition.

I have had a few turning points, the first day I entered a gymnastics school at age 6.

My parents were very loving, but disciplinarians.

I like to tell young people to work hard for your goals and live in the moment.

I always say, 'When the Olympics are happening, you shouldn't be in any other place in the planet - you should be here.'

People ask me what the definition of perfection, I said it's none: there is no definition of perfection.

If I was 14 or 15 again, I would do the same thing. I've done everything. I think I've accomplished more than I had in mind.

I like seeing advanced acrobatics, but I also like to see more than tumbling. It's important to combine the artistry of gymnastics with the tough skills. It's called artistic gymnastics. We should stand by the name.