Top 50 Mirai Nagasu Quotes

Not only would my parents work full hours, my parents both woke up at 5 A.M. My dad left the house at 5 A.M. to go to the fish market to pick out his own fish, and my mom woke up at 5 A.M. to wake me up in order to get me ready for skating before school.

Getting to the Olympics was the hard part.

I always want to try for what’s been offered to me.

On a normal day, I would wake up at 7:00 A.M. and spend about three to four hours training every day. But all of that depends on my school schedule. School and classes usually run from 8:00-10:40 A.M., but not before I’ve had a coffee for breakfast.

I think every brilliant mind is a little bit crazy.

A lot of people know me for my speed and my flexibility. I like to jump, but I’m not really the best jumper. I’m more of a spinner.

My parents are super excited that they’ve produced an Olympian. I don’t think they ever would have imagined this would happen in a million years, so I hope I represent not only Team U.S.A., but the Japanese-American culture and my family as well.

I think being in the public eye has made me more determined than other people to show that I do belong at the top, and I believe I am one of the hardest-working people at the rink. I feel like I have always been that way, but sometimes I just get in my own way.

I have always believed that I am an amazing skater regardless of what the results say, and I think that determination and confidence has kept me in the game so long.

It was hard for me to leave the nest, but my mom is super proud of me. She said, ‘You became independent really quickly, and I’m so proud of you,’ but she misses me all the same.

I think it’s because I’m so hard on myself that I can push myself this far.

When I was in middle school, I remember thinking, like, Tara Lipinski was 14: I only got a few more years to go before I’m really old.

Skating becomes more important to me every year. It’s obviously harder as age takes a toll on the body and the brain, and I think because of that, competing becomes much more difficult. That’s why those who stick around are always so appreciative of others’ skating because we know how much work goes into it.

If you really put your mind to it, anything is possible.

Michelle Kwan was an inspiration for everyone, including me.

Figure skaters are usually young and then just fade away. But I’m not a fade-away kind of person.

I feel like the worst has happened to me, so what better person to skate to ‘Madame Butterfly’ than me?

I think my own thinking is harsher than my mom’s discipline.

For the American culture to evolve and include Asians is so amazing.

Maybe Asians are switching from studying to sports.

I always soak in a bath with Epsom salts for a minimum of 20 minutes to absorb the magnesium once I get home.

I have always believed that I’ve been an amazing skater regardless of what the results say.

Sports is expensive, and you have to find a way to pay for it.

To all the little girls out there, I would tell them to really appreciate what their parents do for them. And also to truly believe in their dream. If they truly believe that they’re capable, things will happen for them – as long as they put in the work, of course.

I started skating when I was five years old in Pasadena, California.

Who cares if you get last place. This is the Olympics. Making it is the hard part.

It’s been exciting to share my story for people to relate to me and reach out.

People have drawn me, which is super cool. I’d love to print some out and put them on my wall.

In the history of sport in general, people stick around. Look at Shaun White and Lindsey Vonn just continue on, Olympic cycle after Olympic cycle; that is why they are famous.

There are moments when I think I’m not very smart and not very pretty, and skating is the only thing that stands out about me. It’s like the love of my life. When you love someone, sometimes you want to break up.

Never lose your undying belief in yourself and your abilities.

The only thing I can expect from myself is to learn from each competition and improve.

I like to be bold and different and to go and try things.

I wanted to make America proud.

Sometimes, it’s hard for me to communicate my discomfort because I want to be respectful. At the same time, I’ve learned that you have to ask people on your team to help you out.

Education is more important than skating. I want to keep up with my schoolwork and my skating.

You can train to be ready for the nerves, and we simulate it all the time, but it’s never the same when it actually matters.

I’ve learned a lot from my parents.

I got to meet Rachel Platten, who sings ‘Fight Song,’ I love that song.

During finals week, I don’t get a lot of sleep, and I tell myself, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’

I guess I can be stereotypical and say that Asians are very cheap.

I get about seven hours of sleep a night.

For my dad to say he’s proud of me – in English – is a really big deal.

I can snap my toes. Everyone keeps asking me this, but I know it’s kind of weird, but I think it’s fun that I can snap my toes.

I believe in adventure and imagination, and I got that from my parents and the things I experienced as a child.

When I’m at home, I’m a real big cuddler, so I sleep with my dog in my arms.

Being 16 is such a great age because I’m still really young, and I’ll still have a lot of chances. But the Olympics only come every four years, so you don’t want to waste an opportunity.

When I come home from training, my attention immediately has to focus on my school courses, which helps keep the stress level balanced. I mostly balance both by drinking a lot of coffee and making sure I time manage well, which doesn’t happen all the time, especially during finals week.

I made history here by landing the first triple axel for a U.S. lady, third at the Olympics, and that’s a big deal.

Sports are evolving and always evolving, and people have that determination to keep going and coming back. I think I’m one of those athletes. I stand to show that people shouldn’t give up. You’ve got to just keep going until you succeed.