My Nike gold shoes, custom made for me for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. A bold start to my quest to make history. (AFP/Getty Images)
Running the curve ahead of Great Britain's Roger Black in the 400m final. (Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)
On the podium, having won my first individual Olympic gold medal. Despite trying to be in control and private through most of my career, I finally allowed myself to let go and feel the joy … and that's when I started to cry. (AFP/Getty Images)
Me with my brother and sisters in the back garden of our house in 1972 (I was four years old here). From left to right: Paul Jr., me, Regina, Deidre and Cheryl. As I was the youngest my sisters and brother would always chase me around and tease me. I had to get fast!
With my son Sebastian in 2004. I do mandate that he participate in some sport, but equally I mandate that he participate in music and art.
With my mother Ruby and father Paul. Parents play a major role in the success of many Olympic champions, and I'm certainly no different.
The day I signed my scholarship papers to compete for Baylor University. Left to right: Clyde Hart (my coach), his wife Maxine, my mother, me, my father and Que McMaster (assistant coach at Baylor).
Usain Bolt blew my mind when he smashed the 100m world record in the final at the 2008 Games in Beijing. (Getty Images)
Rebecca Adlington with her gold medal for the 800m freestyle in Beijing. She broke the 19-year-old world record in the final and became the most successful British swimmer in more than 100 years. (AFP/Getty Images)
Chris Hoy celebrates winning gold in the track cycling sprint, an event he took on after his preferred race was taken out of the Olympic programme. He took three gold medals home from Beijing. (Getty Images)
Mark Spitz in action at the 1972 Munich Olympics, where he won an incredible seven gold medals. (AFPIGetty Images)
Nadia Comaneci celebrates gold in the uneven bars at the 1976 Montreal Olympics at the age of just 14, after she became the first person in Olympic history to score a perfect 10. (AFP/Getty Images)
Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson, who won a mind-boggling 16 Olympic medals, including 11 golds. (Getty Images)
Jackie Joyner-Kersee takes off on her way to gold in the long jump at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Jackie was an athlete I grew up watching and continued to look up to throughout my career. (Getty Images)
Ian Thorpe, who broke his ankle just ten months before the Sydney Olympics in 2000, celebrates gold in the 400m freestyle. Ian's experience could serve as a lesson for any injured athlete. (Getty Images)
‘I remember crossing the finish line and thinking, “Am I in a dream or has that really happened?”’ Sally Gunnell celebrates gold in the 400m hurdles at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. (Getty Images)
Daley Thompson preparing to throw in the shot putt on his way to gold in the decathlon at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. (Getty Images)
'I was so overcome that I didn't know what to do but sit down and take my shoes off.' Cathy Freeman after winning the 400m at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. (Getty Images)
Steve Redgrave with his gold medal at the Sydney Olympics. He won a gold at five consecutive Olympics, spanning a period of 16 years. (Getty Images)
Seb Coe winning gold in the 1500m final in Los Angeles 1984. 'Winning is predicated on a pretty healthy, robust diet of defeat,' says the two-time Olympic champion. (Getty Images)
Me and Coach (Clyde Hart) at the Baylor University football stadium in Waco, Texas, in 1992-just before we headed to Barcelona for the Olympics.
On the winner's podium with my 400m gold medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
Record-breaking footwear - the purple shoes in my hands I wore to break the 200m world record in the US Olympics trials in 1996, and the gold shoes in Coach's hands I wore to break that record in the Olympic final.
Some of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation members - including some of the stars of this book. Left to right: (front row) Daley Thompson, me, Nadia Comaneci, Nawal El Moutawakel, Emerson Fittipaldi, Edwin Moses, Franz Klammer, Sean Fitzpatrick; (back row) Kip Keino, Mark Spitz, Hugo Porta, Ilie Nastase, Robby Naish, Boris Becker, Kapil Dev, Morne du Plessis.
Yes! Winning double Olympic gold - with a new world record. I've never felt anything like it in my life. (AFPIGetty Images)
With my 200m gold medal, alongside my friend and great rival Frankie Fredericks (who took silver, on the right) and bronze medallist Ato Boldon. (Getty Images)