Fokus / Focus Gerade / Straight Gold Goldmedaille / Gold Medal Ich kam / I Came Jahre / Years Kam / Came London Medaille / Medal Nach dem / After Verteidigen / Defend Vier / Four Weg / Away Zurück / Back
Winning a gold medal is not easy but I believed in myself, especially over the last four years.
My dad, he believed in me. My first year was hard for me. I came to the States with myself, and no one came with me.
When I went back to England after a year away, the country seemed stuck, dozing in a fairy tale, stifled by the weight of tradition.
As I look back on the last few decades of my life, I am struck by the good fortune that came my way.
London 2012 is all about winning a medal. Not just any medal, the gold medal.
I was famous from the age of 13, and after a while you become immune to it - in a good way. You look at positives and what you can do with it.
I'd probably say the championships mean more to me, but the gold medal makes you a bit different. It's a special award.
Despite the rejection, and in violation of all the rules, I came back year after year.
I can make my living out of Ireland, but the reason I came to London was that I felt I'd gone as far as I could go in Ireland.
