I like to get in my own world. When I’m getting ready for a meet, I always have headphones on, listening to rap music to get myself fired up.

The more you dream the more you achieve.

I can’t remember the last day I didn’t train.

Perseverance, determination, commitment, and courage-those things are real. The desire for redemption drives you.

You can’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.

I think with practice, you can being whatever you want to be, and with a goal you can go in any direction that you want to go in.

Swimming is normal for me. I’m relaxed. I’m comfortable, and I know my surroundings. It’s my home.

It’s the Olympics. If you can’t get up to swim early in the morning, don’t go.

I’m kind of a creature of habit. Once I get used to doing things, it’s like second nature.

We’re all a little tired.

If you say “can’t” you’re restricting what you can do or ever will do.

Things won’t go perfect. It’s all about how you adapt from those things and learn from mistakes.

When I race, I don’t think about it; it just happens.

I don’t want to be the next Mark Spitz; I want to be the first Michael Phelps.

The problem with heart disease is the first symptom is often fatal.

People say to me, ‘You’re so lucky. You get to see the world.’ But I don’t. I go to the hotel and to the pools and back again. That’s it.

I got the stamina. I can close.

I want to test my maximum and see how much I can do. And I want to change the world of swimming.

My goal is one Olympic gold medal. Not many people in this world can say, ‘I’m an Olympic gold medalist.’