Pal: Olympian Nastia Liukin Wanted to "Give Up" Gymnastics

In its latest issue, on newsstands now, Us Weekly shares the inspirational stories of Olympic gymnasts Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson, Alicia Sacramone and Chellsie Memmel as well as Michael Phelps ' transformation from a bullied schoolkid to record-breaking swimmer. Liukin, 18, has won four medals at the games – including the silver following a controversial tie-break – but she's had her moments of doubt. Just a few months ago, Liukin considered quitting, her best friend and training partner Katie Matusik tells Us . "This sport is so hard," Katie says. "Some days, she'd want to give up. But then she'd snap out of it and be like, 'You know what, I can do this.' She got through it good." Katie's mom Mary adds: "I remember Nastia at 5-years-old, and you just knew she had what it takes. "There are a lot of days when she's in the gym crying," Mary says of the Plano, Texas native. "It's very difficult mentally and physically – She couldn't participate in normal teenage things like ... (link)