It was my mother who got me involved in gymnastics, sending me to classes when I was six just to stop me doing back flips on the couch and destroying the furniture.

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

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

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.

People always accused me of not smiling like my rival Olga Korbut, but that was just my personality. When you're balancing on a nine-inch beam, you have to concentrate. But if you look back at the footage, I was always smiling and waving at the crowd after my performances.