Michelle Kwan 142556 224605339 2008-07-09T16:55:51Z HkCaGu 4301051 [[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 224600653 by [[Special:Contributions/Westermarck|Westermarck]] ([[User talk:Westermarck|talk]]) if you refuse to read the talk contents, it's vandalism {{MedalTop}} {{MedalSport|[[Figure Skating]]}} {{MedalSilver|[[1998 Winter Olympics|1998 Nagano]]|[[Figure skating at the 1998 Winter Olympics|Ladies' Singles]]}} {{MedalBronze|[[2002 Winter Olympics|2002 Salt Lake City]]|[[Figure skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics|Ladies' Singles]]}} {{MedalBottom}} {{Infobox Figure skater |title= Michelle Kwan |image= [[Image:Michelle Kwan Spiral.jpg|250px|center|]] |caption= Kwan performs her signature spiral in 2002. |country= {{USA}} |dateofbirth= {{birth date and age|1980|7|7}} |residence= [[Torrance, California]] |height= 5'2" |coach= [[Rafael Arutunian]] |formercoach= [[Frank Carroll]], [[Scott Williams]] |choreographer= [[Tatiana Tarasova]] |formerchoreographer= [[Lori Nichol]], [[Nikolai Morozov (figure skater)|Nikolai Morozov]], [[Sarah Kawahara]], [[Peter Oppegard]], [[Karen Kwan]], [[Christopher Dean]] |skating club= Los Angeles FSC |retired= |combined total= 175.20 |combined date= [[2005 World Figure Skating Championships|2005 Worlds]] |SP score= 61.22 |SP date= [[2005 World Figure Skating Championships|2005 Worlds]] |FS score= 113.98 |FS date= [[2005 World Figure Skating Championships|2005 Worlds]] }} '''Michelle Wingshan Kwan'''<ref>[http://www.familytreelegends.com/records/calbirths?c=search&first=Michelle&last=Kwan&spelling=Exact&4_year=&4_month=0&4_day=0&5=&7=&SubmitSearch.x=0&SubmitSearch.y=0 California Births, 1905-1995)]</ref> ({{Chinese-inline | t= 關穎珊 | p= Guān Yǐngshān | i= Gwaan Wingsaan}}born [[July 7]], [[1980]]) is an [[United States|American]] [[figure skating|figure skater]]. She has won nine [[United States Figure Skating Championships|U.S. championships]], five [[World Figure Skating Championships|World Championships]], and two [[Figure skating at the Olympics|Olympic medals]]. She has remained competitive for over a decade and is the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history.<ref name=USbio>[http://www.usfigureskating.org/AthleteBio.asp?id=2267 Athlete bio at usfigureskating.org], accessed [[September 8]], [[2006]].</ref> Known for her consistency and expressive artistry on ice, she is widely considered to be one of the greatest figure skaters of all time.<ref name=CSM>[http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0227/p25s01-alsp.html For Americans, lots of medals but a 'faceless' Olympics], by Mark Sappenfield, staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor, accessed [[September 6]], [[2006]].</ref><ref name=Asianmedia>[http://www.asianmediawatch.net/bestapas/ Video Spotlight - Michelle Kwan], Asian Media Watch, accessed [[September 6]], [[2006]].</ref><ref name=CCNPeople>[http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/people/shows/kwan/profile.html People in the News Spotlight - Michelle Kwan], CNN People in the News, accessed [[October 8]], [[2006]].</ref> ==Personal life== Born in [[Torrance, California]], Kwan is the third child of Danny and Estella Kwan, [[Han Chinese|Chinese]] immigrants from [[Hong Kong]]. As a child, Kwan grew up speaking a mixture of [[Cantonese (linguistics)|Cantonese]] and [[English Language|English]] at home. In addition, she also speaks some conversational [[Mandarin (linguistics)|Mandarin]]. Kwan's interest in figure skating began at the age of five when she followed her two older siblings ([[ice hockey]] player Ron and figure skater [[Karen Kwan|Karen]]) onto the ice. Karen and Michelle began serious training when Michelle was about 8 years old. They practiced three to four hours a day, waking up at 3am to skate before school and going back to the rink right after school to skate again. Paying for their increased skating-rink time led to financial hardship for Kwan's [[working class]] family. Her mother took on a second job and her father started working extra hours to finance the rink time and coaching fees. Eventually the family decided to sell their house, but that still was not adequate to finance the children's skating careers. When Kwan was ten years old, her family could no longer afford a coach, but they were offered financial assistance by a fellow member of the Los Angeles Figure Skating Club<ref name=winningattitude>[http://www.amazon.com/dp/0786805463 The Winning Attitude: What It Takes to Be A Champion] by Michelle Kwan, 1999; Publisher: Hyperion Press</ref><ref name="bio">Michelle Kwan, ''Heart of a Champion'', ISBN 0-590-76340-7</ref> that allowed them to train at the Ice Castle International Training Center in [[Lake Arrowhead, California|Lake Arrowhead]], [[California]]. ===Education=== Kwan attended Soleado Elementary School in [[Palos Verdes]], [[California]], but left public school to be homeschooled starting at the age of 13. After graduation from [[Rim of the World High School]] in 1998, she attended [[University of California, Los Angeles|UCLA]] for one year. In the fall of 2006 she transferred to the [[University of Denver]] with the intent of majoring in [[political science]] and minoring in [[Graduate School of International Studies|international studies]].<ref>[http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-elliott24dec24,1,964592.column?coll=la-headlines-s&ctrack=1&cset=true LA Kwan expands outlook as part of her healing process] Los Angeles Times, [[December 24]], [[2006]]</ref> ==Public life== ===Ambassadorship Endeavors=== Kwan dined with U.S. President [[George W. Bush]] and Chinese President [[Hu Jintao]] during President Hu's 2006 state visit to the United States.<ref name=Hu>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12441379/site/newsweek/ Hu's Visit: Bush's Chinese Diplomacy—Lost in Translation], accessed [[September 9]], [[2006]].</ref> On [[November 9]], [[2006]], Secretary of State [[Condoleezza Rice]] named Michelle Kwan as a public diplomacy ambassador. In this non-salaried position, Kwan will represent American values especially to young people and sports enthusiasts and is expected to travel widely.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/winter/2006-11-08-kwan-diplomat_x.htm Michelle Kwan named U.S. public policy ambassador]USA Today, November 1998</ref> Kwan made her first overseas trip in the capacity of public diplomacy ambassador with a visit to China from [[January 17]]–[[January 25]], [[2007]]. ===Filmography=== <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:SimpHomer Kwan 2 72.jpg|right|thumb|175px|Kwan as a character in the TV show ''[[The Simpsons]]'']] --> Kwan has guest starred as herself in "[[Homer and Ned's Hail Mary Pass]]", an episode of ''[[The Simpsons]]'', and in the ''[[Family Guy]]'' episode "[[A Hero Sits Next Door]]". She has also made guest star appearances in the children's cartoon television series ''[[Arthur (TV series)|Arthur]]'', and has also appeared in ''[[Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (TV series)|Sabrina, the Teenage Witch]]''. She provided the voice of a shopkeeper in [[Disney]]'s direct-to-DVD sequel ''[[Mulan II]]'', and she and fellow figure skater [[Brian Boitano]] appeared as announcers in the film ''[[Ice Princess]]''. She has performed in numerous figure skating programs, and has cameo appearances in various other television series. In 1999, she appeared in the ''[[Michelle Kwan Figure Skating]]'' computer game.<ref name=imdb>{{imdb name | id = 0005111 | name = Michelle Kwan }}, accessed [[September 9]], [[2006]].</ref> ===Other activities=== Kwan wrote an inspirational book for kids titled, ''The Winning Attitude: What it Takes to be a Champion''. She also wrote an autobiography, ''Heart of a Champion'', at 17. In [[2005]], Michelle Kwan's family opened the EastWest Ice Palace in [[Artesia, California]]. The ice rink houses many of her skating medals and memorabilia.<ref>[http://www.cityofartesia.us/newsArticles/icePalace.html City of California, EastWest Ice Palace], City of Artesia, California, accessed [[October 8]], [[2006]].</ref> Kwan has had numerous endorsement contracts and has appeared in television commercials for sponsors including [[Campbell's Soup]], [[Visa (company)|VISA]], [[Coca-Cola]], and [[Kraft]].<ref>[http://heatherw.com/mk/endorsement.htm List of Kwan's endorsements]</ref> The Chevrolet/Michelle Kwan R.E.W.A.R.D.S. Scholarship program was established by the Chevrolet Motor Division of [[General Motors]] in cooperation with Kwan.<ref name="scholarship">[http://www.usfsa.org/Story.asp?id=95 Michelle Kwan's REWARDS scholarship program], accessed [[July 14]], [[2006]].</ref> In [[February 2006]], Kwan was named a "celebrity representative" for [[The Walt Disney Company]].<ref>[http://corporate.disney.go.com/news/corporate/2006/2006_0216_kwan.html Figure Skating Champion Michelle Kwan To Serve As Celebrity Representative and Spokesperson for Disney], [[February 16]], [[2006]], accessed September 6, 2006</ref> <!--Note to editors: This article is already longer than the suggested length for Wikipedia articles. Please do not make it any longer by adding unimportant personal trivia about Kwan, particularly items that are unrelated to her primary fame as a skater or that do not include a reliable source. --> ==Competitive biography== ===Summary=== Kwan has won five [[World Figure Skating Championships|World Championships]] (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2003), the most by anyone in the ladies' division since [[Carol Heiss]] (1956–1960), with whom she is tied for the most wins by an American.{{Fact|date=March 2008}} She has won nine [[United States Figure Skating Championships]] (1996, 1998–2005), tying the record for most set by [[Maribel Vinson-Owen]] (1928–1933, 1935–1937). Kwan's eight consecutive U.S. Championship titles (1998–2005) and 12 consecutive U.S. Championship medals (1994–2005) are both U.S. records. She is the only woman in figure skating history to reclaim the World title three times (1998, 2000, 2003).<ref name=USbio>[http://www.usfigureskating.org/AthleteBio.asp?id=2267 Athlete bio at usfigureskating.org], accessed September 8, 2006.</ref> She has also won a silver medal at the [[1998 Winter Olympics|1998 Nagano Olympics]] and a bronze medal in the [[2002 Winter Olympics|2002 Salt Lake City Olympics]]. Among her many accolades, Kwan is a recipient of the prestigious [[James E. Sullivan Award]], which is given to America's best amateur athlete; she was the first figure skater to win the award since [[Dick Button]] won it in 1949. Kwan has received a combined total of 57 6.0s (perfect scores) from her National and World competitions throughout the years. At the U.S. Nationals alone, she holds the record for most 6.0s. Because figure skating is no longer scored on a 6.0 scale, Kwan's records will stand indefinitely.<ref name=COP>See [[ISU Judging System]], which replaced the 6.0 system in 2004.</ref> ===Early competition=== In [[1991]], Michelle and sister [[Karen Kwan|Karen]] began training with [[Frank Carroll]]. After one year of coaching by Carroll, 11-year old Michelle placed 9th at the junior level at the United States Figure Skating Championships. At the age of 12 in [[1992]], Kwan passed the final test to become a senior-level figure skater despite the disapproval of her coach. In [[1993]], Kwan finished sixth at her first senior U.S. championships. The next season, she won the 1994 [[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|World Junior title]]. In 1994, Kwan finished second to [[Tonya Harding]] at the U.S. championships, which ordinarily would have earned her a spot on the U.S. team to the [[1994 Winter Olympic Games|1994 Olympic Games]] in [[Lillehammer]], [[Norway]]. That place, however, was instead given to 1993 national champion [[Nancy Kerrigan]], who had been sidelined by an [[Olympic Games scandals#1994 Winter Olympics|assault and battery]] (eventually connected to Harding's ex-husband [[Jeff Gillooly]]), after a practice session at those championships. The 13-year-old Kwan went to Norway as an alternate but did not compete. Kerrigan and Harding both dropped out of eligible competition before the 1994 World Championships, where Kwan competed and finished eighth. At the 1995 U.S. Championships, [[Nicole Bobek]] won the gold medal, while Kwan again placed second after struggling with her [[lutz jump]] in both the short program and free skate. She advanced to the 1995 World Championships. During her free skating performance, she landed 7 clean triple jumps—more than any other skater{{Fact|date=July 2007}}, and placed 4th. ===Artistic development and 1998 Olympics=== Following 1995, Kwan developed a more mature style. Her new, more artistically expressive programs were "Romanza" (short program) and "[[Salome (opera)|Salome]]" (free skate). She also improved her speed and her jump technique, and performed more difficult choreography. In 1996, Kwan won both the U.S. Championships and the World Championships. In the latter event, she edged out defending champion [[Chen Lu]] in a very close competition in which both competitors garnered two perfect 6.0s for [[List of figure skating terms#P|Presentation]] in the free skate. In the 1996–97 season, Kwan skated to "Dream of Desdemona" (short program) and "Taj Mahal" (free skate). It was during this year that Kwan debuted a [[spiral (figure skating)|change-of-edge spiral]], which is still considered her [[List of figure skating terms#S|signature move]]. However, in this season, Kwan struggled with her [[figure skating jump|jumps]] because of a growth spurt and problems with new skating boots which she wore for an endorsement contract with the manufacturer.<ref name=tragedys20>See [http://www.usatoday.com/olympics/owg98/og1/ogfs06.htm The tragedy of turning 20] by Christine Brennan, July 12, 1999, USA Today accessed October 9, 2006.</ref> She fell twice and stumbled once in her free skate at 1997 U.S. Nationals. She also lost the [[Champion Series Final]] and World titles to [[Tara Lipinski]] that season. Kwan regained her U.S. title from Lipinski at the 1998 championships, in spite of competing with a toe injury. Many people consider her performances of her [[Sergei Rachmaninoff|Rachmaninoff]] short program and free skate set to [[William Alwyn]]'s "Lyra Angelica" at the 1998 U.S. Championships to be the high point of her career from both a technical and artistic standpoint.<ref>[http://cbs.sportsline.com/u/olympics/nagano98/figuresk8/news/ladies1898.htm 1998 Nationals: Lipinski Fall, Kwan wins with 6.0s]CBS Sportsline</ref> The performance earned her eight perfect 6.0s and left one judge in tears.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/olympics/owg98/og6/ogfs618.htm Judges in Tears]USA Today, 1998 accessed October 13, 2006</ref> She was the co-favorite to win the [[1998 Winter Olympic Games|1998 Olympic Games]] in [[Nagano]], [[Japan]]. She won the silver medal, with the gold medal being won by rival [[Tara Lipinski]] and the bronze medal by [[Chen Lu]].<ref>[http://cbs.sportsline.com/u/olympics/nagano98/figuresk8/feb98/kwan22198.htm Kwan vows to fight until 2002]CBS Sportline, Feb 1998 accessed October 13, 2006</ref> Lipinski and Chen both retired from competitive skating shortly after the Olympics, while Kwan went on to win the 1998 World Championships in Minneapolis. As a side note, a controversy was sparked when [[MSNBC]] used the headline '''"American beats out Kwan"''' to report the result of the Nagano competition.<ref>[http://www.allbusiness.com/services/business-services-miscellaneous-business/4702772-1.html American beats out Kwan </ref> ===From 1998 to 2002 Olympics=== Kwan continued to compete as an eligible skater in the 1998–99 season, although she bypassed the fall Grand Prix season and instead chose to skate in a series of made-for-television pro-am events. Her "regular" competitive programs that season were "Fate of Carmen" (short program) and "Lamento D'Ariane" (free skate). At the 1999 U.S. Championships, competing against a weak field, Kwan attained her third title. At the 1999 World Championships, Kwan did not skate her best,<ref>[http://www.canoe.ca/SlamSkating99Worlds/mar27_kwan.html Favored Kwan stuck in fourth place]Slam Figure Skating, March 1999 accessed October 13, 2006.</ref> and placed second behind Russian competitor [[Maria Butyrskaya]].<ref>[http://www.canoe.ca/SlamSkating99Worlds/mar28_rus.html Butyrskaya wins; Russians Sweep] Slam Figure Skating, March 1999 accessed October 13, 2006.</ref> Kwan's win at the 2000 U.S. Nationals was controversial to some{{Who|date=July 2007}}. She was criticized{{Who|date=July 2007}} for planning an easier jump in her short program than her competitors (a triple [[toe loop jump|toe loop]] rather than a triple [[flip jump|flip]]), and then she fell on this element in the competition. The judges nevertheless placed her third in that segment behind younger challengers [[Sasha Cohen]] and [[Sarah Hughes]];<ref>[http://espn.go.com/skating/news/2000/0214/356631.html Young Ballerinas Chases Kwan] ESPN, January 2000 accessed October 13, 2006.</ref> however, the placement still kept her in contention for the title. Ultimately, she won the free skate with the best performance of the night, capturing 8 of the 9 first-place ordinals.<ref>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/magazine/olympics/news/2000/02/15/oly0221/ No. 2 With a Bullet]Sports Illustrated, February 2000 accessed October 13, 2006</ref><ref>[http://espn.go.com/skating/news/2000/0212/353513.html Kwan wins Fourth Title]ESPN, February 2000 accessed October 13, 2006.</ref> At the 2000 World Championships, Kwan was again in third place after the short program, behind Butyrskaya and [[Irina Slutskaya]]. In her free skate, Kwan landed seven triples, and won that segment of the competition. Butyrskaya lost her commanding lead by finishing only third behind Slutskaya in the free skate, allowing Kwan to win the overall title as well.<ref name=skatecap>See [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/euro/skatecap.htm 2000 Worlds Skate Recap] Scandal dampens 2000 Worlds, USA Today accessed October 9, 2006.</ref> In 2001, Kwan again won the U.S. Championships, receiving first-place ordinals from all 9 judges in both the short program and free skate. At the 2001 World Championships, Kwan was second behind Slutskaya in the short program. Kwan won the title with her "Song of the Black Swan" free skate, executing 7 triples, including a triple toe loop/triple toe loop combination.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/sports/comment/brennan/2001-03-26-brennan.htm Drumbeats start for Kwan in 2002]Christine Brennan, USA Today, March 2001 accessed October 13, 2006.</ref> In the fall of 2001, Kwan and Carroll decided to end their coaching relationship. In interviews, Kwan said she needed to "take responsibility" for her skating.<ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2001/10/25/SP219125.DTL Kwan dismisses longtime coach] SFGate.com - October 2001 accessed October 14, 2006.</ref> Coachless, Kwan arrived at the 2002 U.S. Championships in Los Angeles amid the media's scrutiny over her separation with Carroll and her season's inconsistencies. Kwan won the competition with a revived "Rachmaninoff" short program and a new "[[Scheherazade (Rimsky-Korsakov)|Scheherazade]]" program for her free skate, securing a place on the [[2002 Winter Olympics|2002 Olympic team]]. Joining her on the team were [[Sasha Cohen]] (second) and [[Sarah Hughes]] (third).<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/olympics/saltlake/figure/2002-01-12-us-women.htm Kwan recaptures season and the national crown] USA Today - January 2002 accessed October 14, 2006.</ref> The 21-year-old Kwan, along with Russia's [[Irina Slutskaya]], were favorites to win the gold. Kwan led after the short program, followed by Slutskaya, Cohen, and Hughes. In the free skate, a combination of a flawed performance by Kwan (two-footing her combination and falling on her [[Flip jump|triple flip]]), a perfect performance of [[Sarah Hughes]], and Irina Slutskaya beating Kwan in the free skate, saw Kwan receive the bronze medal.<ref name=hughesupset>See [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2002/figure_skating/news/2002/02/21/womens_final_ap/ Hughes Edges Slutskaya, Kwan for Gold] Hughes Edges Kwan and Slutskaya to win gold, CNN Sports Illustrated, February 21, 2002 accessed October 9, 2006.</ref> Kwan finished the 2002 season with a second place finish at the World Championships. ===Continued competition=== [[image:Kwan WM2004 1.jpg|right|thumb|Michelle Kwan skating in the 2004 [[World Figure Skating Championships]] Exhibition in [[Dortmund]], [[Germany]]]] While the question of her retirement to the professional level lingered, Kwan continued to compete on the Olympic-eligible circuit. She added three more U.S. championships (2003–2005) and a fifth World championship (2003) to her list of victories. Her wins at Nationals brought her consecutive winning streak to an all-time record eight and her title total to a shared record of nine. Coached by [[Scott Williams]], Kwan won all phases of every competition she entered in the 2002–2003 competitive season with her programs: "[[The Feeling Begins]]" (short program) and "[[Concierto de Aranjuez]]" (free skate). She won the U.S. Championships again and regained her World title. In 2003, she hired noted technician [[Rafael Arutunian]] as her coach, with whom she attempted to increase the technical difficulty of her programs. In the 2003–2004 competitive season, she skated again to "The Feeling Begins" for her short program, and "[[Tosca]]" for her long program. Again, Kwan won the U.S. Championships. At the 2004 World Championships, after a difficult qualifying round, Kwan was penalized in her short program for going two seconds over time.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} Then, just as she was about to start her free skate, there was a disruption caused by a spectator entering the ice surface, who had to be removed by security staff. In the end, Kwan placed third at the championships behind [[Shizuka Arakawa]] of Japan and [[Sasha Cohen]]. During the fall seasons of 2002 to 2004, Kwan competed in only one [[ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating|Grand Prix]] event, [[Skate America]] in the fall of 2002, which she entered as a last-minute replacement. She won the event and qualified for the [[Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final|Grand Prix Final]] but chose not to compete in it. Kwan chose to not compete in Grand Prix events in the 2003 and 2004 seasons where the [[ISU Judging System|new judging system]] was being used. For the 2004–2005 competitive season she skated a long program to the "[[Boléro]]" music made famous by [[ice dancing|ice dancers]] [[Jayne Torvill]] & [[Christopher Dean]] two decades before, and debuted a new short program, "Adagio" from [[Aram Khachaturian]]'s ballet ''[[Spartacus (ballet)|Spartacus]]''. At the U.S. Championships, she won her 9th title, tying the all-time record previously set by [[Maribel Vinson-Owen]]. Interestingly, Vinson-Owen had coached [[Frank Carroll]], who in turn coached Kwan. At the 2005 World Championship, Kwan did not skate her best{{Fact|date=July 2007}}, falling on her triple [[salchow jump|salchow]] and two-footed a triple [[lutz jump|lutz]]. She finished fourth, missing third place by 0.37 points. For the first time since 1995, Kwan finished off the podium at the World Championships. Later, Kwan commented that her lack of experience with the new scoring system had affected her performance.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} ===2006 Olympics=== Kwan looked at the 2005 Worlds as a learning experience in the [[ISU Judging System]].{{Fact|date=March 2008}} She continued to train and stated that she would attempt to qualify for the [[2006 Winter Olympics|2006 Olympic Games]] in [[Turin]], [[Italy]].<ref>[http://afampointofview.com/POV%20Archives/2007/May%202007/Sports_Sullivan%20Award.htm] Retrieved 23 July 2007 </ref> However, following a hip injury, she was forced to withdraw from her three planned competitions in the fall of 2005. Kwan skated her new short program ("Totentanz") at a made-for-TV event in December, 2005, but her performance was well below her usual standard. On January 4, 2006, Kwan withdrew from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships with an abdominal injury incurred in December 2005. One week later, she filed a petition with the USFSA for a medical waiver to be placed on the 2006 Olympic figure skating team.<ref>[http://afampointofview.com/POV%20Archives/2007/May%202007/Sports_Sullivan%20Award.htm] Retrieved 23 July 2007 </ref> On January 14, 2006, after the United States ladies' figure skating event, the USFSA's International Committee met and in a 20 to 3 vote approved Kwan's petition under the stipulation that she show her physical and competitive readiness to a five-member monitoring panel by January 27. Kwan performed her long and short programs for the panel on the stipulated day, and her spot on the Olympic team was established, as the panel felt she was fit to compete. However, on February 12, 2006, the [[United States Olympic Committee]] announced that Kwan had withdrawn from the Games after suffering a new groin injury in her first practice in Turin. Kwan remarked that she "respected the Olympics too much to compete.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11302192/ Injured Kwan withdraws from Olympics], Associated Press, February 13 2006, accessed October 8, 2006.</ref>" The Turin organizing committee accepted the USOC's application for [[Emily Hughes]] (who had finished third at the U.S. Championships) to compete as Kwan's replacement. After her withdrawal from the Olympic team, Kwan turned down an offer to stay in Turin as a figure skating commentator for [[NBC Sports]].<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/02/12/D8FNT05G4.html Kwan Says Thanks, but No, to NBC's Offer], By David Bauder, AP Television Writer, 12 February 2006, accessed September 6, 2006.</ref> During an interview with [[Bob Costas]] and [[Scott Hamilton (figure skater)|Scott Hamilton]], Michelle Kwan said she was not retiring yet. If she continues to compete until the 2010 Olympics, she will be 29 years old. ===Injury and continued career=== After completing the spring and summer [[Champions on Ice]] tour, Kwan underwent elective [[arthroscopic surgery]] in August 2006 to repair a torn [[labrum]] in her right hip, an old injury which she traces back to 2002.<ref>[http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-elliott24dec24,1,964592.column?coll=la-headlines-s&ctrack=1&cset=true LA Kwan expands outlook as part of her healing process] Los Angeles Times, December 24, 2006</ref> According to Kwan, the surgery allowed her to skate pain free for the first time in four years.<ref>[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2003952856_peep16.html?syndication=rss People in Sports | Michelle Kwan] The Seattle Times. Article by The Associated Press, October 16, 2007. Accessed November 4, 2007.</ref> Kwan did not compete during the [[2006]]–[[2007]] figure skating season.<ref>[http://www.usfsa.org/Story.asp?id=35383&type=news Michelle Kwan To Skip 2006-07 Competitive Season], United States Figure Skating Association, 6 September 2006, accessed September 6, 2006.</ref> Kwan told the Associated Press in October 2007 that she would decide in [[2009]] if she plans to compete in the [[2010 Vancouver Olympics]].<ref>[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2003952856_peep16.html?syndication=rss People in Sports | Michelle Kwan] The Seattle Times. Article by The Associated Press, October 16, 2007. Accessed November 4, 2007.</ref> ==Awards and accolades== Kwan is a recipient of the prestigious [[James E. Sullivan Award]] (2001), which is given to America's best amateur athlete; she was the first figure skater to win the award since [[Dick Button]] won it in 1949. In 2003 she was named the [[United States Olympic Committee]] (USOC) "Sportswoman of the Year", and is the 5th figure skater in history to receive this honor. She has also been named USOC "Athlete of the Month" 14 times, which is more than any other athlete, male or female, as well as being named "Female Figure Skating Athlete of the Year" by the USOC multiple times. She is also the recipient of the USOC's "Citizenship Through Sports Alliance Award" (2004). Kwan is the only multiple winner of the "Readers' Choice Figure Skater of the Year" award given by ''Skating'' magazine (1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001–2003). In 2003, the [[United States Figure Skating Association]], which publishes ''Skating'', announced that the award would be renamed the "Michelle Kwan Trophy." The USFSA stated that although Kwan may continue to skate competitively, she will no longer be eligible for this award. She also appeared on ''International Figure Skating Magazine'''s "25 Most Influential Names in Figure Skating List" seven times, and was named the most influential skater for the 2002–03 season. In 1999, she was given the Historymakers Award by the Los Angeles [[Chinese American Museum]]. ==Programs== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- !Season !''Short Program'' !''Long Program'' !''Exhibition'' |- ! 2005–2006 | Totentanz <br /><small>by [[Franz Liszt]] <br /> arranged by [[Maksim Mrvica]] | Prelude in C Sharp Minor Op. 18 <br /><small> by [[Rachmaninov|S. Rachmaninov]]</small> | A Song for You <br /><small> by [[Natalie Cole]]</small> |- ! 2004–2005 | Adagio from Spartacus <br /><small> by [[Aram Katchaturian]]</small> | Bolero <br /><small> by [[Maurice Ravel]]</small> | You Raise Me Up <br /><small> by [[Josh Groban]]</small> <hr> This Used To Be My Playground <br /> <small>by [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]</small> |- ! 2003–2004 | The Feeling Begins <br /><small> by [[Peter Gabriel]]</small> | Tosca <br /><small> by [[Giacomo Puccini]]</small> | Fallin' <br /><small> by [[Alicia Keys]]</small> |- ! 2002–2003 | The Feeling Begins <br /><small> by [[Peter Gabriel]]</small> | Aranjuez <br /><small> by J. Rodrigo <br /> performed by [[Ikuko Kawai]]</small> | Fields of Gold <br /> <small> by [[Eva Cassidy]]</small> |- ! 2001–2002 | East of Eden <small>by [[Lee Holdridge]]</small><hr> Piano Concerto #3 <br /> <small>by [[Rachmaninov|S. Rachmaninov]]</small> | Selections from Scheherazade <br /> <small>by [[Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov]] <br /> performed by [[New York Philharmonic]]</small> | Fields of Gold <br /> <small> by [[Eva Cassidy]]</small> |- ! 2000–2001 | East of Eden <br /> <small>by [[Lee Holdridge]]</small> <hr> Rush | Song of the Black Swan <br /> <small>by [[Hector Villa-Lobos]]</small> <br /> Dumky Trio <br /> <small>by [[Antonin Dvorak]]</small></small><hr> Selections from Miraculous Mandarin <br /> <small>by [[Béla Bartók]]</small> | Beautiful World <br /> <small>by [[Sumi Jo]]</small><hr> This Time Around<br /> <small>by [[Linda Eder]]</small> |- ! 1999–2000 | A Day In The Life <br /> <small>by [[Jeff Beck]]</small> | Selections from [[The Red Violin]] <br /> <small>by [[John Corigliano]] <br /> performed by [[Joshua Bell]]</small> | The World Is Not Enough <br /> <small>by [[Garbage]]</small><hr> Hands (Holiday Version) <br /> <small>by [[Jewel (singer)|Jewel]]</small> |- ! 1998–1999 | The Fate of Carmen | Lamento D'Ariane | Kissing You <br /> <small>by [[Des'ree]]</small> |- ! 1997–1998 | Piano Concerto #3 <br /> <small>by [[Rachmaninov|S. Rachmaninov]]</small> | Lyra Angelica <br /> <small>by [[William Alwyn]]</small> <br /> Gymnopedie #3 <br /> <small>by [[Erik Satie]]</small> | On My Own |- ! 1996–1997 | Dream of Desdemona | Gyulistan Bayati Shiraz <br /> <small>by Fikret Amirov</small> <br /> Lion of the Desert <br /> <small>by [[Maurice Jarre]]</small> | Winter <br /> <small>by Tori Amos</small> |- ! 1995–1996 | Romanza | Salome | East of Eden <br /> <small>by [[Lee Holdridge]]</small> |- ! 1994–1995 | Yellow River Piano Concerto <br /><small> by [[Xian Xianghai]] <br /> performed by [[Yin Cheng-Zong]]</small> | [[Rondo Capriccioso]] <br /><small>by [[Camille Saint-Saens]]</small> | Fantasia on Greensleeves <br /> <small>by [[Ralph Vaughan Williams]]</small> |- ! 1993–1994 | Song of India | East of Eden <br /> <small>by [[Lee Holdridge]]</small> | |} ==Competitive highlights== Major events for Olympic-eligible skaters include the [[U.S. Figure Skating Championships]], [[World Figure Skating Championships]], the [[Olympic Winter Games]], and the [[ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating]]. Kwan's record in these events is listed by season in the tables below. {| class="wikitable" |- ! Event ! 1998–1999 ! 1999–2000 ! 2000–2001 ! 2001–2002 ! 2002–2003 ! 2003–2004 ! 2004–2005 |- | [[Winter Olympic Games]] || || || || align="center" bgcolor="#cc9966" | 3rd || || || |- | [[World Figure Skating Championships|World Championships]] || align="center" bgcolor="silver" | 2nd || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || align="center" bgcolor="silver" | 2nd || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || align="center" bgcolor="#cc9966" | 3rd || align="center" | 4th |- | [[United States Figure Skating Championships|U. S. Championships]] || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st|| align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st|| align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st|| align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st|| align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st |- | [[Grand Prix Final]] || || align="center" bgcolor="silver" | 2nd || align="center" bgcolor="silver" | 2nd || align="center" bgcolor="silver" | 2nd || || || |- | [[Skate America]] || || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || || |- | [[Skate Canada International|Skate Canada]] || || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || align="center" bgcolor="silver" | 2nd || align="center" bgcolor="#cc9966" | 3rd || || || |- | [[Goodwill Games]] || || || || align="center" bgcolor="silver" | 2nd || || || |} {| class="wikitable" |- ! Event ! 1991–1992 ! 1992–1993 ! 1993–1994 ! 1994–1995 ! 1995–1996 ! 1996–1997 ! 1997–1998 |- | [[Winter Olympic Games]] || || || || || || || align="center" bgcolor="silver" | 2nd |- | [[World Figure Skating Championships|World Championships]] || || || align="center" | 8th || align="center" | 4th || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || align="center" bgcolor="silver" | 2nd || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st |- | [[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|World Junior Championships]] || || || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || || || || |- | [[United States Figure Skating Championships|U. S. Championships]] || align="center" | 9th J. || align="center" | 6th || align="center" bgcolor="silver" | 2nd || align="center" bgcolor="silver" | 2nd || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || align="center" bgcolor="silver" | 2nd || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st |- | [[Champions Series Final]] || || || || || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || align="center" bgcolor="silver" | 2nd || |- | [[Skate America]] || || || align="center" | 7th || align="center" bgcolor="silver" | 2nd || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st |- | [[Skate Canada International|Skate Canada]] || || || || || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st |- | [[Trophée Lalique]] || || || || align="center" bgcolor="#cc9966" | 3rd || || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || |- | [[Bofrost Cup on Ice|Nations Cup]] || || || || || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || || |- | [[Gardena Spring Trophy]] || || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || || || || || |- | [[Goodwill Games]] || || || align="center" bgcolor="silver" | 2nd || || || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st |} * J = Junior level ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==External links== {{wikiquote}} {{commonscat}} <!-- Note to editors: please read [[Wikipedia:External links#Links_normally_to_be_avoided]] before inserting links here. Note that links to fan sites or discussion forums are explicitly not considered appropriate in Wikipedia. --> * {{isu name | id=00000561 | name=Michelle Kwan}} * {{usfsa name | category=AthleteBio| id=2267 | name=Michelle Kwan}} *[http://www.usoc.org/26_1145.htm Official U.S. Olympic Team Biography] {{NavigationWorldChampionsFigureSkatingLadies}} {{NavigationUSChampionsFigureSkatingLadies}} {{NavigationGrandPrixFinalChampionsFigureSkatingLadies}} {{NavigationWorldJuniorChampionsFigureSkatingLadies}} {{Persondata |NAME=Kwan, Michelle Wing |ALTERNATIVE NAMES=關穎珊 (Traditional Chinese), 关颖珊 (Simplified Chinese) |SHORT DESCRIPTION=Figure skater |DATE OF BIRTH=[[July 7]], [[1980]] |PLACE OF BIRTH=[[Torrance, California]] |DATE OF DEATH= |PLACE OF DEATH= }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Kwan, Michelle}} [[Category:1980 births]] [[Category:Chinese American sportspeople]] [[Category:University of Denver alumni]] [[Category:American figure skaters]] [[Category:California sportspeople]] [[Category:Figure skaters at the 1998 Winter Olympics]] [[Category:Figure skaters at the 2002 Winter Olympics]] [[Category:James E. Sullivan Award recipients]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the United States]] [[Category:Olympic figure skaters of the United States]] [[Category:Olympic silver medalists for the United States]] [[Category:People from Torrance, California]] [[Category:Winter Olympics medalists]] [[cs:Michelle Kwan]] [[de:Michelle Kwan]] [[fr:Michelle Kwan]] [[it:Michelle Kwan]] [[nl:Michelle Kwan]] [[ja:ミシェル・クワン]] [[pl:Michelle Kwan]] [[ru:Кван, Мишель]] [[simple:Michelle Kwan]] [[fi:Michelle Kwan]] [[sv:Michelle Kwan]] [[zh:关颖珊]]