Leisel Jones Quotations

Life has changed dramatically for me since the 2004 Athens Olympics. With every meet I'm learning more. I have no real pressure on me since I have both breaststroke (100m/200m) world records.

I was shocked by the performance as I haven't been feeling the best all week. I screamed out after I hit the wall because I was just in absolute shock. I couldn't believe it.

I was shocked as I haven't been feeling the best all week.

I think it's a good start for my short course swimming and it is even better for the longer distance games.

I think America has always had that (intimidation factor) in the past. Now, I think it has reversed a little bit. I think we are probably pretty intimidating (to others).

I was going for the world record . . . but I wasn't feeling my best all week, so it was hard to determine what would happen. I could not believe it. I went into shock. I'm still in shock. I don't think I'm unbeatable - nobody is.

I'm in absolute shock. It seems that 2006 has been the year for me.

I'm in absolute shock. I cannot believe it. It is absolutely amazing -- I was so nervous beforehand I had (stomach) cramps.

We're the girls' version of the awesome foursome.

There's nothing like competing in front of a home crowd and they're absolutely incredible suits.

The sad thing is it happens all the time. It's very invasive and it makes you so vulnerable.

It was very exciting because I'm not known as a 50 swimmer and ever since I was quite young, I've had slow starts. I'm putting things into place now.

The testing is something we accept and we don't have a problem doing it because it proves things, doesn't it?

This morning did not start well, I got up later than I should have. I was supposed to have a sleep in anyway but I went to get on the bus and it had left 10 minutes early.

They're cheering so loud. It's responsible for a lot of the great performances out there. It's alight out there, it's a real buzz.

It's funny that we are performing like them and are clean as a whistle. It's a nice comparison.

That is amazing. My goal was to go 1:05.9.

It was pretty exciting. All life experiences coming into one race. I'm comfortable with my result, I trust my coach and this is only a warm up experience.

I gave everything and I think I might have gone out a bit hard in the first 100m.

Great job, girls! It tops off great preparation we've had all week.

Going into that race I was going for the world record, just quietly, but I wasn't feeling at my best all week so it was hard to determine what would happen. I could not believe it, I went into shock, I'm still in shock.

I can't control what everyone else swims but if all goes well I know there are no limits.

I used to beat myself up everyday if I did not win an event. I am quite open about those things now and that has been a big change.

I'm really quite exhausted at the moment, but you never know, you are always surprised at what you can find sometimes, and maybe I will find something deep within to find the desire to swim fast

It's easy to forget when you're an elite athlete that everyone else gets nervous as well. Even the best people in the world, at whatever they do, they're still nervous

It took a lot of guts to change it and say 'I don't like the life that I'm living and I don't like the swimmer I am', so let's change it completely and say 'Look, I've got to learn to love myself'. And that's been a really hard thing to do because when you've done a performance that you're not proud of and the public and the media have criticized you.....people are really quick to make judgements so it was tough to say 'Well I don't care what you have to say. I'm going to do this for myself and if you don't like me after this, well then, it's too bad'.

I don't think I'm unbeatable, nobody is

I've achieved everything I ever wanted. I've done three Olympics, world championships, I've been around the world and made good friends. But I still have the inner drive to do more, to be not just good, but to be great.