Yes, WINNING the GOLD medal was undoubtedly the BIGGEST day of my CAREER - mostly because I won the way I had prepared to RUN it. It was a totally satisfying experience.

My only AIM is to WIN an OLYMPIC MEDAL.

As a soccer player, I WANTED an FA Cup WINNER's MEDAL. As an actor you WANT an Oscar. As a chef it's three-Michelin's stars, there's no greater than that. So pushing yourself to the extreme creates a lot of PRESSURE and a lot of excitement, and more importantly, it shows on the plate.

Now that I have an OLYMPIC MEDAL in my room, it MAKES me hungry for another and a different color one.

Of COURSE, I can't WAIT until I GET the medal and I can WALK AROUND the house and say, 'Daddy, I got you.'

Winning a gold MEDAL MEANS you're the BEST in the WORLD at that TIME.

I've ALWAYS DREAMED of an OLYMPIC MEDAL.

It's an HONOR to be awarded the LIBERTY MEDAL.

You have to lose to WIN a SILVER MEDAL, so that's always the tough THING to wrap your head AROUND.

Bringing a MEDAL for the COUNTRY is the BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT, and that is why I am very happy.

It is a GREAT FEELING that I am the FIRST INDIAN to win a gold medal in track event in world juniors.

Coming in as a VETERAN, I'd LIKE to FINISH with a gold medal.

Winning is great, but being able to finish my last Olympic Games on AMERICAN SOIL was very IMPORTANT. Even though I was injured, I didn't let my psyche get the best of me and cause me to doubt myself, so I was willing to PULL every muscle in my BODY in '96 in order to get the job done and I came away with the bronze medal.

To have this GOLD medal around my neck is just bonkers and STILL hasn't REALLY SUNK in.