What does it mean to you to be part of the fantastic Olympic legacy of your family?
"I just feel very lucky to be able to represent the United States . It's a wonderful country that I'm very proud of—proud of the way we act, proud of what we do. I'm also very proud of my family and their accomplishments. I am very blessed to be part of this family. To be able to fulfill this circle is a great feeling of accomplishment.”

Jim What was your most memorable moment at the Olympics?
“The Opening Ceremonies and carrying the torch was great. Being selected by the athletes to read the Olympic Oath was a tremendous honor. But to be able to represent my country in my country, win the gold medal and step on the podium to receive it with everyone excited and cheering for me, that was amazing."

What are some of the most important lessons you learned from your father and your grandfather? “From my Grandfather, I learned to be persistent, and to have real desire. Also, to remember that at the end of the day, it's not about the medals you win. You can't celebrate the medals if you don't have someone to celebrate with—the friendships are so much more important. From my father, I learned hard work and determination. You have to keep at it. The more you keep going, the more chances you have to succeed.”

What is your vision for the Foundation?
“After the Olympics, I realized that I didn't get to be a gold medalist without a lot of help. Now it is my turn to give back, maybe jumpstart the future of the next superstar. For me to be able to go out and raise a lot of money for these kids is a great opportunity.

As a kid growing up with a learning disability, sports was the one thing that made me gain confidence—to go out into the world and make good decisions, to have a belief deep down in myself. Sports can give that to kids. There is so much technology out there (video games and television) that kids have lost the appeal of athletics—sport can be so important in giving kids skills and confidence to attack life with a better attitude. I know the Shea Family Foundation is going to be able to deliver that to kids—I've seen that already, and I'm really excited about it. The lessons I learned from my coaches and family always kept me going through the trials in my life. In sports a lot of times, you have to overcome adversity, to meet challenges head on and attain goals. Those lessons helped me succeed on the track, and in life. I want to be able to pass on that message to kids today.”