Former Olympians also get paid to make appearances. Many of them won their medals in an era when Olympic success didn't go hand-in-hand with financial success.

Three events. Three gold medals. I was news big news in the sports world.

Gold medals aren't really made of gold. They're made of sweat determination and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.

I was at the Olympic Games winning medals and I still doubted my image. I doubted what I looked like. That's sad.

In the military I could exercise the power of being automatically respected because of the medals on my chest not because I had done anything right at the moment to earn that respect. This is pretty nice. It's also a psychological trap that can stop one's growth and allow one to get away with just plain bad behavior.

God will not look you over for medals degrees or diplomas but for scars.

It was never about winning medals or being famous.

We have to be able to grow up. Our wrinkles are our medals of the passage of life. They are what we have been through and who we want to be.

I love her attitude but as much as I'd like to bring my medals to a speech or appearance I never do.

Trophies and medals have never meant much to me. I've had amazing experiences which let you feel like you've accomplished something.