When I'm starting a race, I just completely narrow down my vision and focus on what's directly ahead of me.

I never think about records. I focus on my race and try to get onto the podium consistently. It's hard enough to do that.

For me, I always think about keeping my upper body relaxed, my hips level, and my right side down on the turn. If I work on nailing those three things at every practice, I hope that by the time I get into a race situation I can stay completely focused on the task at hand, and the rest will happen naturally.

I don't even know if you can blink in a hundredth of a second, and that's what it comes down to in speed skating.

I'll get to the oval three hours beforehand and warm up for about 45 minutes off the ice. Then I'll stretch and get on the ice for 20 minutes. I'll cool down, then relax, close my eyes and think about what I need to do.

I had always dreamed of being an Olympian, and something clicked inside of me. I knew I had to move to Salt Lake City and make this dream a reality.