If I have a feeling of not trusting, I don't get too close.

I always say I don't want to change anything in my life.

People assume a lot of things about gymnasts - that the girls work too hard, it's way too much for them, they are too young to work so hard.

My marriage to my husband, Bart Conner in 1996 is my proudest personal moment.

I come from a communist country. We learned nothing of lawyers, nothing about rights.

What can you know about life at 14? I have learned a lot since, but you learn slowly. You get hit by many things and try to make sense of it.

Nellie Kim, an Olympic champion from the former Soviet Union, got a 10 right after me in '76, but nobody talks about that.

When you go out of your country and meet people, you get a wider perspective.

I did not even look at the scoreboard when my routine was done in 1976.

One of the most difficult times in my life was when I escaped from Romania in November of 1989.

When I look back, I am happy that my mum took me to the gymnastics club. I didn't join gymnastics to become a famous athlete or celebrity; it just happened - I did more than I expected, of course.

Yes, gymnasts aim for perfection, but I never thought about the score. If that's what's in your mind, it will probably mess you up.

Of course I used to smile and laugh in 1976, but not when I was competing. Please show me somebody who laughs when they are concentrating; I always smiled.

When I was 14, I had no pressure. I was a kid, and I didn't understand all the attention.

I wanted to have a free life.

Maybe that's why I like gymnastics - because I like to fly.

Hard work has made it easy. That is my secret. That is why I win.

You should also appreciate the goodness around you, and surround yourself with positive people.

Life is not easy for anyone. You have to have ups and downs. You can make mistakes. You learn and try not to make them again. That's pretty much my principle.

I know my life story sounds too extraordinary to be true.

Enjoy the journey and try to get better every day. And don't lose the passion and the love for what you do.

I believe that you should gravitate to people who are doing productive and positive things with their lives.

I don't run away from a challenge because I am afraid. Instead, I run toward it because the only way to escape fear is to trample it beneath your feet.

I want to be the best. The only thing holding me back is me.