I won't back down. I get a satisfaction from being tested and defeating the test.

I want to see where I measure up against everyone in the world and everyone who has ever competed in the sport, and there's that innate sense of wanting to challenge myself. I'm competitive in all aspects.

There's never going to be a decathlon that you're going to have 10 events that your satisfied with. You're always, always going to be dissatisfied in something, and that always draws you back to try to retry that the next time you do a decathlon. It's like you go for the perfect 10.

I think a challenge for myself is to see how many times I can get above 9,000. That would be a good challenge.

I'm not maximized yet.

That is when the crowd really lifted me. That last 600 meters I was not running with my own legs. It was incredible.

The desire definitely comes from within. There are only a few people who make it to this level and those are the ones who have that innate desire.

The thing I like about decathlon is also the thing I dislike: It's the maximum challenge, but also the maximum frustration.

When I see my mom in the stands, it always pushes me to succeed.

The great thing about this is, and not to pump my own tires, but I feel like I'm not maximized yet. I feel like I can still run faster, jump higher, which I think makes it special. Hopefully, going to London, I'll be welcomed into the decathlon community.