Why do we love Michelle?

Grace. Style. Elegance. Poise. Champion. Just a few of the superlatives that describe Michelle Kwan. As a five-year old, she took up skating after watching her brother play hockey. Ever precocious, at the age of 12, she finagled her way into taking, and passing the seniors exam while her coach was out of town. Michelle's first brush with skating history would come during the US Nationals in 1994, forever remembered for Tonya and Nancy. While Michelle finished second, earning a place on the Olympic team, the team officials awarded the spot to Kerrigan, placing Michelle as the alternate. Two short years after "Skate-Gate", Michelle brought grace and elegance to the skating world, winning the first of seven US and four World titles. She entered the 1996 Nagano Games as the favorite, and while she skated well, she played it safe and settled for the silver, losing the gold medal to teammate, Tara Lipinski. Afterward, in the true spirit of the Olympics, saying "It seemed like I was in my own little world. I didn't open up; I didn't really let go. I knew this wasn't going to be a piece of cake, but I can walk away and be happy. It might not be the gold medal I wanted, but I'll take it." While her peers turned pro, Michelle continued to dominate the amateur competitions and chase the elusive Olympic gold. Once again, she entered the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics as the favorite, but two errors in her final skate left her vulnerable and she would settle for the bronze.

Ever determined to combine style and grace with athleticism, Michelle Kwan continues to rewrite the record books, as the most decorated US skater with 39 titles and a career total of 33 (and counting) perfect 6.0 marks in major competitions, the most of any skater in history. While Olympic gold may have so far eluded her (don't count her out in 2006!), Michelle is still considered "the gold standard for future generations of figure skaters."*

Biography:

Born - July 7, 1980
Torrance, CA

Achievements:

Contratulations, Michelle - 2003 World Champion!

• 7-Time U.S. National Champion (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)
  
  • Second Place (1994, 1995, 1997)

• 4-Time World Champion (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001)
  
  • Second Place (1997, 1999, 2002)

• Olympic Silver Medalist - 1998 Nagano Games
• Olympic Bronze Medalist - 2002 Salt Lake City Games

• 7-Time Skate America Champion (1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)
  
  • Second Place (1994)

• 2001 - Sullivan Award
• 2000 - Named one of People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People
• 1999 - Michelle Kwan Figure Skating, the first interactive skating video game is released
• 1998 - Women's Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year
• 1997 - Her autobiography, Michelle Kwan: Heart of a Champion is published (and in its sixth printing)
• 1996 - USOC Sportswoman of the Year
• 1996 - Sullivan Award Finalist
• Helped create the Chevrolet/Michelle Kwan R.E.W.A.R.D.S. Scholarship Program for outstanding college-bound female athletes
  
  * Said after her 1998 gold medal performance at the US Nationals