Athlete

I was born with legs, but they were so deformed.

I was a troublemaker.

I can go days without eating if I don't think about food. Your mind, to protect itself, learns not to pay attention to that hunger feeling.

I definitely went through a period where I don't want to say I hated myself, but I hated what I saw in the mirror. I would try to cover it up, and it wasn't until I started doing sports - until after London 2012 - that I kind of started getting more of that confidence in my body and appreciating my body.

With cycling, I can still be active and compete, and ultimately, that's what I love to do, to be competitive.

I remember seeing the Olympics when I was 13. I always wanted to know how it felt to stand on top of the podium hearing your country's anthem while watching your flag being raised in something you poured your heart and soul into.

The mind is really powerful.

Sports were a way for me to get comfortable with my body. I learned to appreciate everything I could still do.

I definitely did not like my body when I first started sports. I didn't like my body just in general as a teenager. Being a girl and a teenager with two prosthetic legs and two hands that were misshapen that had so much reconstructive surgery on them, I thought my world was over - put a zit on top of that, and then my life is completely over.

I usually like to keep my hair and makeup routines pretty simple after I work out but always need a little bit of mascara to finish off the look. I just swipe some on and then am good to go for the rest of the day.

I was a super active kid, so I've always been aware of where my body is in space, and I think when I had my legs amputated, it makes you more aware of your body, and because I don't use my legs, I use more of my hands.

Cycling's primarily a pushing motion, and skiing is more pulling, so it kind of balances out the body.

With cycling, I can still be active and compete, and ultimately, that's what I love to do, to be competitive.

I didn't find out about the Paralympics until I was 18 years old. Once I found out what the Paralympics were, I was so excited to know I had a chance to represent my country and wear Team U.S.A. on my back.

The realization that I'm never going to run again, the feeling through my hair when you run... you're still a kid. You still have so much life to live.

The mind is really powerful.

I can go days without eating if I don't think about food. Your mind, to protect itself, learns not to pay attention to that hunger feeling.

Sport has definitely been an outlet for me.

Time trialing is one of those things that you've got to train for... Being a new rider, it's still really hard for me to know what's the most efficient gear for me to be in. The road race is probably more exciting, in my opinion, because it's a lot faster pace, and people are constantly attacking.

Time trialing is one of those things that you've got to train for... Being a new rider, it's still really hard for me to know what's the most efficient gear for me to be in. The road race is probably more exciting, in my opinion, because it's a lot faster pace, and people are constantly attacking.