On not letting herself get distracted: "From the very beginning I've always focussed on myself and not tried to compete against everybody else. Because that's when the mistakes happen and you're not worried about yourself, you're worried about other people."
On not letting her size hold her back: "[My mom] always told me that although I am small, that doesn't limit my power or define me. For me, I don't think about size — I focus more on being powerful and confident."
On setting expectations for herself: "The biggest expectations are the ones I have for myself. Others' expectations don't really bother me at this point."
On how she prepares to compete: "Before I go out and compete, my mom always says, 'Be the best, Simone,' but other than that, there's nothing special that I do. I'm just myself."