Michelle Kwan

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Michelle Wingshan Kwan (born July 7, 1980) is a retired American competitive figure skater and diplomat who served as United States Ambassador to Belize from 2022 to 2025. In figure skating Kwan is a two-time Olympic medalist (silver in 1998, bronze in 2002), a five-time world champion (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003) and a nine-time U.S. champion (1996, 1998–2005). She is tied with Maribel Vinson for the all-time National Championship record.

She competed at the senior level for over a decade and is the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history.<ref name=USbio>Athlete bio at usfigureskating.org Template:Webarchive, accessed September 8, 2006.</ref> Known for her consistency and expressive artistry on ice, she is widely considered one of the greatest figure skaters of all time.<ref name=CSM />

For well over a decade, Kwan maintained her status not only as America's most popular figure skater but as one of America's most popular female athletes.<ref name=HarrisInt /> Kwan landed numerous major endorsement deals, starred in multiple TV specials and was the subject of extensive media coverage.<ref>Stephie Lu was her teacher. Will O.C.'s Ashley Wagner be skating's next rock star? Template:Webarchive, accessed May 21, 2014.
- How Tonya, Nancy helped their sport Template:Webarchive, accessed May 20, 2014.
- Template:Cite news</ref> From 1997 to 2005, she was the U.S. Figure Skating Association's top-paid skater in appearance fees and prize money,<ref name=TheBottomLine /> as well as one of the highest paid Winter Olympic athletes in endorsements.<ref name=WhoWillWin /><ref>Going for Endorsement Gold Template:Webarchive, Forbes, accessed May 19, 2014.
- Kwan Detractors need to Grow Up, Los Angeles Times, accessed May 19, 2014.</ref> Kwan was also the highest-paid skater on the Champions on Ice tours.<ref name=Goodasgold />

Following her figure skating career, Kwan became active in politics, particularly with the Democratic Party. In January 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Kwan to be U.S. Ambassador to Belize. She was confirmed by the Senate on September 29, 2022, took the oath of office on October 22, and presented her credentials on December 5.

Early life and education

Born in Torrance, California, Kwan was the third child of Danny Kwan and Estella Kwan, immigrants from Hong Kong. Her father was a native of Canton and emigrated from Hong Kong to California in 1971.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Kwan grew up speaking both Cantonese and English at home.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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) onto the ice.<ref name=bio0506 /> Karen and Michelle began serious training when Michelle was about eight years old. They practiced three to four hours a day, waking up at 4:30am and arriving at the rink at 5:00am to skate before school, and then 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. 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>Template:Cite book</ref> that allowed them to train at the Ice Castle International Training Center in Lake Arrowhead, California.

Kwan attended Soleado Elementary School in Palos Verdes, California, but left public school to be homeschooled in 1994, when she was in the 8th grade.<ref name=cbie /> After graduation from Rim of the World High School in 1998, Kwan attended University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for one year.

In the fall of 2006, she transferred to the University of Denver (DU).<ref name="latoutlook" /> Kwan mentioned that her attendance at DU marked a significant "turning point" in her life. She made the shift from having tutors since 7th grade and being a full-time skater to becoming a full-time student. During her initial weeks at DU, she had to use crutches due to hip surgery.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Shortly after her arrival at DU, Kwan engaged in an international studies internship. Condoleezza Rice, the former Secretary of State, appointed Kwan as the inaugural American Public Diplomacy Envoy. Her role was to foster a better understanding of America by sharing her personal story through cross-cultural dialogues with international students.<ref name=":0" />

Kwan mentioned the challenges of balancing travel and school, recounting instances when she had to take exams on campus shortly after returning from a 15-hour flight. She applied the knowledge gained in her classroom to her international endeavors.<ref name=":0" />

In June 2009, she graduated from Denver's Josef Korbel School of International Studies with a bachelor's degree in international studies and a minor in political science.<ref name="sfg090606" /> In 2009, she began graduate studies in international relations at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and graduated in 2011.<ref name="ct110603" /><ref name="lat111223" /> On May 8, 2010, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Southern Vermont College.<ref>Template:Cite news
- Template:Cite news</ref>

Career

File:Michelle Kwan Spiral.jpg

Michelle Kwan performing her signature spiral at a practice session at the 2002 U.S. Figure Skating Championships

Kwan won five World Championships (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003), tying her with Carol Heiss (1956–1960) for the most world titles by an American. Kwan's nine world medals overall is the all-time record for an American skater in any discipline. The only ladies' singles skater with more world titles or medals is Sonia Henie of Norway. Kwan won nine U.S. Championships (1996, 1998–2005), tying the record for most wins set by Maribel Vinson-Owen (1928–1933, 1935–1937). She holds the record for the most consecutive U.S. titles (eight) and most consecutive U.S. Championship medals (twelve). She also earned the silver medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympics and the bronze medal in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Kwan has received a combined total of 57 perfect marks (6.0s) at major competitions, the singles record under the former 6.0 judging system.<ref name=USbio />

Early competition

In 1991, Michelle Kwan and her sister Karen began training with Frank Carroll in Lake Arrowhead, California. 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, Michelle passed the gold 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 Championships.

In 1994, Kwan finished second to Tonya Harding at the U.S. Championships, which ordinarily would have placed her on the U.S. team to the 1994 Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway. That place was instead given to 1993 national champion Nancy Kerrigan, who had been sidelined by an 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. Because of this (and teammate Nicole Bobek not making it out of the qualifying round), Kwan had the sole responsibility to ensure two entries for the U.S. at the 1995 World Championships by placing in the top ten. Kwan had an unusual mistake in the short program and placed eleventh in that portion of the competition, but skated a strong freestyle program and finished eighth overall.

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. At the 1995 World Championships, Kwan was in fifth place after the short program. She skated last in the free skate, giving the best performance of her career up to that point, completing all seven of her triple jumps, and "exuding joy and enthusiasm".Template:Sfn She finished in third place in the free skate, behind Chen Lu from China, who came in first place, and French skater Surya Bonaly, who came in second. Kwan came in fourth place overall, behind American Nicole Bobek, who came in third place overall, even though she came in fourth place in the free skate and despite Kwan's successful execution of her jumps, which were second in difficulty behind Bonaly's.Template:Sfn

Artistic development and 1998 Olympics

Kwan began to develop a more mature style during the 1995 season. She used "Romanza" for her short program and in her free skate, music from "Salome's dance" from the film score King of Kings by Miklós Rózsa and "The Dance of the Seven Veils" from the Richard Strauss opera Salome, both pieces depicting the Biblical story of Salome seducing King Herod.Template:Sfn She also improved her extension, speed and jump technique, and performed to more difficult choreography.Template:Citation needed<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Carroll defended their decision to make Kwan appear more mature by stating that they were giving the judges what they wanted, saying, "The judges were looking for the ladies' champion of the world, not the girls' champion of the world".Template:Sfn

In both her practices and during her performance at Skate America, Kwan wore her hair in a bun instead of a ponytail and wore heavy theatrical makeup, including rhinestones pasted near the corner of her eyes.Template:Sfn Her costume consisted of "a short-sleeved rich purple dress with rhinestone-studded flesh-colored fabric across the midriff and deep front and black necklines, ornamated with elaborate sequined floral patterns in gold and bright pastels".Template:Sfn According to writer Ellyn Kestnbaum, Kwan was inspired more to the music than to the narrative, which as Kestnbaum criticized, revealed Kwan as "a sexual being".Template:Sfn Kestnbaum stated, however, that she found it difficult to construct a linear narrative about the seductive Salome, but that Kwan's moves "might better represent a young woman venturing confidently into the world, encountering loss and confusion, but ultimately finding peace and triumph".Template:SfnTemplate:Efn Kestnbaum also stated that Kwan's movements in the program evoked "images of a sensual, luxurious, exotic Middle East".Template:Sfn

Kwan's free skate consisted of seven successfully-executed triple jumps, including two triple Lutz jumps, one of which was done in combination and was debuted at Skate America and the other preceded by intricate steps. Other elements, such as the complexity of her steps that connected these elements and her spin positions' originality and variety, also contributed to the program's difficulty and artistry. Kestnbaum insists that Kwan's increased speed, the strong debut of her triple-triple jump, and her improved poise, precision, and posture "say more than her hairstyle or makeup about her new maturity as a skater".Template:Sfn Kestnbaum states that Kwan's fellow competitors were better in how they executed flow across the ice, speed, and height of their jumps and that although Kwan exhibited more caution and control than her competitors, she skated with "new power and excitement compared to her younger self".Template:Sfn Kestnbaum credits the success of the Salome program to Kwan's intricate choreography, which featured emotional depth during the program's heavier moments and frequent reversals of direction that often unexpectedly led to spins or jumps.Template:Sfn Kwan ended up winning Skate America in 1995.Template:Sfn

Kwan won both the U.S. Championships and the World Championships in 1996. In the later event, she edged out defending champion Chen Lu in a very close competition in which both competitors garnered two perfect 6.0s for Presentation in the free skate.Template:Citation needed She was the third youngest figure skater to hold both titles. The1996-97 season marked the beginning of a winning streak for Kwan that lasted more than a year, from the fall of 1995 to the fall of 1996. As Kestnbaum put it, Kwan became "the most consistent and well-rounded skater in the [women's] field, taking on an almost legendary mystique as she continued to mature as a feminine artistic skater emphasizing beauty, musicality, and dramatic storylines concerned with love and death".<ref name="kestnbaum-1552">Kestnbaum, p. 155</ref>

In the 1996–97 season, Kwan skated to "Dream of Desdemona" (short program) and "Taj Mahal" (free skate). During this season, Kwan struggled with her jumps because of a growth spurt, which affected her balance on her jump, and problems with new skating boots which she wore for an endorsement contract with the manufacturer.<ref name="kestnbaum-1552">Kestnbaum, p. 155</ref><ref name="tragedys202">See The tragedy of turning 20 Template:Webarchive by Christine Brennan, July 12, 1999, USA Today accessed October 9, 2006.</ref> She won the short program at the 1997 U.S. Nationals, but fell early in her free skate and as she later stated, "panicked" and made several more errors. She lost to Tara Lipinski, who came in first place in her free skate. Three weeks later, at the Champion Series Final, she again lost to Lipinski, who completed more successful jumps than Kwan in both the short program and free skate.<ref name="kestnbaum-1552" /> At the 1997 World Championships, Kwan came in second place, behind Lipinski, who won the gold medal. Kwan came in fourth place in her short program due to an unsuccessful jump combination while Lipinski came in first place and Irina Slutskaya, who missed her combination jump, came in sixth place. All three skaters performed well during their free skates, each earning first-place ordinals from three of the nine judges. Kwan won the free skate, with Lipinski coming in second place and Slutskaya coming in third place. Kwan's jumps in her free skate were not as difficult as Lipinski and Slutskaya's, but her skating between her jumps was more complex and demonstrated "more polished refinement".<ref>Kestnbaum. p. 156</ref> Overall, Lipinski came in first place, Kwan came in second place, and Slutskaya came in fourth place behind Vanessa Gusmeroli of France.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Going into the 1997—98 Olympic season, the American press "play[ed] up the Kwan-Lipinski rivalry for all it was worth".<ref name="kestnbaum-158">Kestnbaum, p. 158</ref> According to Kestnbaum, Kwan's programs emphasized sophistication and pure skating, which Kestnbaum called "a change of pace"<ref name="kestnbaum-158" /> from her previous two seasons, which featured dramatic storylines. Kestbaum also called both Kwan's programs "carefully choreographed expressions of joy".<ref name="kestnbaum-163"/> For Kwan's short program, she chose piano music by Rachmaninoff, and for her free skating program, she chose music from the concerto Lyra Angelica by William Alwyn. She came in first place at Skate America, winning both the short program and free skate, while Lipinski came in second place.<ref name="kestnbaum-158" /> She also won Skate Canada, but suffered a stress fracture on her foot and was forced to withdraw from her third Champions Series Final. Kwan regained her U.S. title from Lipinski at the 1998 National Championships, despite her fractured toe.Template:Citation needed Her injury prevented her from attempting her triple toe-triple toe combination, but she completed all seven jumps in her free program earning 6.0s from eight of the nine judges. As Kestnbaum put it, Kwan "skated with a transcendent floating quality that was becoming her trademark".<ref>Kestnbaum, p. 160</ref> Many people consider her performances at the 1998 U.S. Championships to be the high point of her career from both a technical and artistic standpoint.<ref>1998 Nationals: Lipinski Fall, Kwan wins with 6.0s Template:Webarchive CBS Sportsline</ref> Both performances earned her fifteen perfect 6.0s and left two judges in tears.<ref>Judges in Tears Template:Webarchive USA Today, 1998 accessed October 13, 2006</ref>

Kwan and Lipinski were co-favorites to win the 1998 Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan. Kwan placed first in the short program, winning eight first place votes out of nine judges, while Lipinski came in second place. In the free skate, Kwan, who skated first in the final group, executed a clean seven-triple performance but placed behind Lipinski, who also did seven triples including a triple loop/triple loop combination and a triple toe-loop/half-loop/triple Salchow. Kwan's performance was "graceful and well-measured, filled with complex edging and unusual moves such as a sequence of spins in both directions".<ref name="kestnbaum-162">Kestnbaum, p. 162</ref> Kestnbaum called Kwan's free skate "tentative and slow" as compared to her performance at Nationals. Her jumps were more difficult and bigger than Lipinski's, but Kwan's were not as high and did not cover as much ice as her competitors' jumps.<ref name="kestnbaum-162"/> Lipinski's spins were faster than Kwan's. The judges awarded Lipinski with higher technical scores and gave both Lipinski and Kwan the same presentation scores, mostly 5.9s, although Lipinski won the free skate.<ref name="kestnbaum-163">Kestnbaum, p. 163</ref> Kwan ended up winning the silver medal, with the gold medal going to Lipinski and the bronze medal to Chen Lu.<ref>Kwan vows to fight until 2002 Template:Webarchive CBS Sportline, Feb 1998 accessed October 13, 2006</ref><ref>Kestnbaum, p. 161</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.

From 1998 to 2002 Olympics

File:Michelle Kwan.jpg

Kwan completing her Scheherazade long program at the 2001–02 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Ontario, Canada

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). Kwan won her third national title at the 1999 U.S. Championships, competing against a weak field. At the 1999 World Championships, Kwan did not skate her best,<ref>Template:Usurped Slam Figure Skating, March 1999 accessed October 13, 2006.</ref> and placed second behind Russian competitor Maria Butyrskaya.<ref>Template:Usurped Slam Figure Skating, March 1999 accessed October 13, 2006.</ref>

Kwan's win at the 2000 U.S. Nationals was controversial to some.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She was criticized for planning an easier solo jump in her short program than some of her competitors (a triple toe loop rather than a triple flip), and 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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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>No. 2 With a Bullet Template:Webarchive Sports Illustrated, February 2000 accessed October 13, 2006
- 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 Maria Butyrskaya and Irina Slutskaya. In her free skate, Kwan landed seven triple jumps, including a triple toe loop/triple toe loop combination, and won that segment of the competition. Butyrskaya lost her commanding lead by finishing third behind Slutskaya in the free skate, allowing Kwan to win the overall title as well.<ref>Scandal dampens World Figure Skating Championships Template:Webarchive, USA Today, accessed October 9, 2006.</ref>

During the 2000–2001 season, Kwan began working with the famed designer (and former figure skater) Vera Wang, who designed most of her competition and exhibition costumes for the next six years. Kwan was only the second figure skater Wang designed for, following Nancy Kerrigan.<ref>Michelle Kwan wears Vera wedding dress Template:Webarchive, accessed May 20, 2014.
- Figure skating costume facts Template:Webarchive, accessed May 20, 2014.</ref> At that year's national championships, Kwan again won the title, 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>Drumbeats start for Kwan in 2002 Template:Webarchive Christine Brennan, USA Today, March 2001 accessed October 13, 2006.</ref>

File:Michelle Kwan 2002 Olympics Short Program 02.jpg

Kwan performing her short program at the 2002 Winter Olympics

Kwan and Carroll decided to end their coaching relationship two days before the start of the 2001 Skate America competition.<ref name=bio0506 /> In interviews, Kwan said she needed to "take responsibility" for her skating.<ref>Kwan dismisses longtime coach Template:Webarchive 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" program for her free skate, securing a place on the 2002 Olympic team. Joining her on the team were Sasha Cohen (second) and Sarah Hughes (third).<ref>Kwan recaptures season and the national crown Template:Webarchive USA Today – January 2002 accessed October 14, 2006.</ref> The 21-year-old Kwan and 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, Kwan two-footed her triple toe loop combination and fell on her triple flip, while Sarah Hughes skated a clean program. Kwan won the bronze medal behind Hughes and Slutskaya.<ref name=hughesupset>See Hughes Edges Slutskaya, Kwan for Gold Template:Webarchive Hughes Edges Kwan and Slutskaya to win gold, CNN Sports Illustrated, February 21, 2002 accessed October 9, 2006.</ref> Kwan's final event of the season was the 2002 Worlds, where she won the silver medal behind Slutskaya.

2002–2006

File:Kwan WM2004 1.jpg

Kwan skating to "Fallin'" in the 2004 World Figure Skating Championships in Dortmund, Germany

Kwan began working with coach Scott Williams in the summer of 2002.<ref name=bio0506 /> She continued to compete on the Olympic-eligible circuit, although in a more limited way. During the fall seasons of 2002 to 2004, Kwan competed in only one 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 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 new judging system was being used. Kwan won all phases of every competition she entered in the 2002–2003 competitive season with her programs: Peter Gabriel's "The Feeling Begins" from The Last Temptation of Christ (short program) and "Concierto de Aranjuez" (free skate). She won the U.S. Championships again and regained her World title.

In autumn 2003, she hired the noted technician Rafael Arutyunyan as her coach,<ref name=bio0506 /> with whom she attempted to increase the technical difficulty of her programs and hone her jump technique. In the 2003–2004 competitive season, she skated again to "The Feeling Begins" for her short program, and Puccini's "Tosca" for her long program. Again, Kwan won the U.S. Championships, earning seven more 6.0s for presentation during the free skating. At the 2004 World Championships, after a difficult qualifying round, Kwan was penalized in her short program for going two seconds over the time limit. This caused her to place fourth going into the long program, behind American Sasha Cohen, Japan's Shizuka Arakawa, and Miki Ando.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Kwan skated a clean performance with five triples and received the last 6.0 marks given at the World Championships. She placed second in the free skating portion (she was one judge short from winning the free skating) and placed third overall, behind Arakawa (who performed seven triples, including two triple-triple combinations) and Cohen.

For the 2004–2005 competitive season, Kwan skated her long program to "Boléro", choreographed by British ice dancer Christopher Dean who had famously skated to the music with Jayne Torvill two decades before, and debuted a new short program, "Adagio" from Aram Khachaturian's ballet Spartacus. At the U.S. Championships, she won her 9th title, tying the all-time record previously set by Maribel Vinson-Owen. Vinson-Owen had coached Frank Carroll, who in turn coached Kwan. At the 2005 World Championship, Kwan competed for the first time under the new judging system. She had a rough qualifying round and placed third in the short program. In the free skate, Kwan fell on her triple salchow and two-footed a triple lutz. Although she finished third in both the short and long program portion of the competition, Kwan was edged by Carolina Kostner for the bronze medal and finished fourth overall, missing third place by 0.37 points. It was the first time since 1995 that Kwan had failed to medal at any international competition, and would be her final competitive event.

2006 Olympics

File:Michelle Kwan Turin 2006 Games.jpg

Kwan announcing her withdrawal from the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, February 12, 2006

Kwan looked at the 2005 Worlds as a learning experience in the ISU Judging System. She continued to train and stated that she would attempt to qualify for the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin, Italy.<ref name="afampointofview.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} Retrieved July 23, 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 name="afampointofview.com" /> 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>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>David Bauder,Kwan says thanks, but no, to NBC's offer Template:Webarchive, Associated Press (February 13, 2007).</ref> During an interview with Bob Costas and Scott Hamilton, Kwan said she was not retiring yet.

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 name=latoutlook /> According to Kwan, the surgery allowed her to skate pain-free for the first time in four years.<ref name=pismk />

After 2006

Kwan did not compete during the 2006–2007 figure skating season.<ref>Michelle Kwan To Skip 2006–07 Competitive Season Template:Webarchive, United States Figure Skating Association, September 6, 2006, accessed September 6, 2006.</ref>

Kwan told the Associated Press in October 2007 that she would decide in 2009 if she planned to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics,<ref name=pismk /> but she ultimately decided not to do so, focusing instead on graduate school.<ref name=Elliott /> She has said "Representing the United States as an American Public Diplomacy Envoy the past three years has been very rewarding, and I want to do more." After graduating from the University of Denver in 2009, Kwan said "Furthering my education will bring me closer to that goal, and I don't want to wait any longer to continue the journey."<ref name=Elliott />

On February 17, 2010, Kwan told ABC News in an interview that she was continuing her studies as a graduate student at the Tufts University Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, as well as continuing her work as a Public Diplomacy Envoy. Kwan also said she would be commentating for Good Morning America at the 2010 Winter Olympics.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} (video)</ref>

In August 2009, Kwan made her first on-ice appearance in several years, performing at Ice All Stars, a show headlined by South Korean world champion Yuna Kim in Seoul, South Korea. Kim considered Kwan her idol growing up.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Kwan also later appeared in Kim's All That Skate shows in South Korea and Los Angeles.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

She was chosen as the guest of honor to help open a new synthetic skating rink at the Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore in December 2010, where she performed a modified routine to "Winter Song", a program she self-choreographed with her sister.<ref name=ao101217 /> She returned to Singapore a month later as a Public Diplomacy Envoy<ref name=usdos1101 /> to meet local students and to promote ice skating in the tropical country.<ref name=st110112 />

As of 2008, Kwan is a member of the Chinese-American organization Committee of 100.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2014, Kwan joined Fox Sports 1 for its Winter Olympics broadcast.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Skating technique

Kwan was known for her unrivaled consistency in delivering clean programs,<ref>U.S. women's skating lacks big star, consistency Template:Webarchive, accessed May 20, 2014.
- Dornbush interview Template:Webarchive, Dornbush mentions Kwan's longevity and consistency with the statement about her "10th skate of a lifetime", accessed May 20, 2014.</ref> as well as her strong skating skills and deep, quiet edges that have been described as "silent blades"<ref>Michelle Kwan set to be inducted into hall of fame Template:Webarchive, Articles.philly.com, accessed May 20, 2014.</ref> that "barely whispered".<ref>Perfect redemption Kwan wins; silver goes to Lipinski Template:Webarchive, Articles.philly.com, accessed May 20, 2014.</ref> She was also known for her musicality and ability to combine grace and artistry with athleticism.

Although not of the greatest height nor explosive spring, Kwan, for most of her career, included all of the triples (except for the Axel) in her programs, including two lutzes (the most difficult jump after the Axel). She landed the triple toe-triple toe combination cleanly eleven times in competition, including at her 2000 and 2001 world championship victories.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During the 2004–2005 season, she debuted a triple flip-double toe-double loop combination.<ref>2005 World Championships ISU results Template:Webarchive, Isureresults.com, accessed May 20, 2014.</ref>

Beginning in the 1996–1997 season, Kwan debuted a change of edge spiral that soon became her signature move.<ref>Spirals and Ice: Kwan still captivates and enchants Template:Webarchive, Nytimes.com, accessed May 20, 2014.</ref> Kwan's spiral was famed by commentators not only for its great extension and line, but also its speed, the strength and security of the edge, the deep lean and the easy smoothness of the change of edge.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the 1998–1999 season, Kwan revived a variation of the Charlotte spiral, a move innovated by German skater Charlotte Oelschlägel which had not been performed in decades.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Kwan's split falling leaf was praised by fellow skaters Dick Button and Peggy Fleming during competitions, for its effortlessness and perfect split position in the air. Kwan has done multiple split falling leaves in immediate succession (without any turns or steps in between) while maintaining a split position on both.<ref>Skating coverage lacks technical merit Template:Webarchive, accessed May 21, 2014.</ref>

Another of her trademark moves is a Y-spin done consecutively on both feet. Kwan is also one of the few skaters who can spin in both directions.<ref>Breaking ice, accessed May 22, 2014.</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 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" fourteen 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).<ref name=USbio />

Kwan is one of only two multiple winners of the "Readers' Choice Figure Skater of the Year" award given by Skating magazine, winning it an unprecedented seven times (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 would no longer be eligible for the award. The only other skater to win the award multiple times, Johnny Weir, only won it twice in comparison.<ref name=USbio /><ref>Johnny Weir wins Skating Magazine Reader's Choice Skater of the Year Award Template:Webarchive, accessed May 19, 2014.</ref>

• In 1999, Kwan was given the Historymakers Award by the Los Angeles Chinese American Museum.<ref>CAM Annual Historymakers Awards Banquet Template:Webarchive</ref>
• In May 2000, Kwan was selected as one of People magazine's 50 most beautiful people.<ref name=USbio /><ref name="Peoplemostbeautiful">Template:Cite news</ref>
• In 2002, Kwan won the Teen Choice Award for favorite female athlete.<ref name=USbio />
• In 2002, Kwan was chosen as Cosmogirl of the year.<ref name=USbio />
• In 2002 and 2003, Kwan won the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award for favorite female athlete.<ref name=USbio />
• In 2005, Kwan traveled to Beijing to accept an award for being the "female athlete kids in China most admire" at the inaugural CCTV-Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Honors.<ref>CCTV Nickelodeon Template:Webarchive, accessed May 19, 2014.</ref>
• In 2007, the Women's Sports Foundation honored Kwan with the Billie Jean Award for her contribution to women's sports.<ref>Billie Jean Awards Template:Webarchive, accessed May 19, 2014.</ref>
• In May 2009, Kwan was honored by the Los Angeles Chinese Historical Society of Southern California in "Celebrating Chinese Americans in Sports".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• In 2010, Kwan received an honorary doctorate's degree from Southern Vermont College and delivered the commencement speech for that year's graduation.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref>

• In 2012, Kwan was the sole inductee for the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame.<ref name=lat111223 /> She was also the sole inductee for the 2012 World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.<ref name=WFSHOF />
• In 2014, Kwan was honored by Harlem Skating for her career.<ref>Harlem Skating Template:Webarchive, accessed May 19, 2014.</ref>
• In 2017, Kwan was inducted into the California sports Hall of Fame.

Public life

Diplomatic positions

File:Michelle Kwan at the NLB, Singapore.jpg

Kwan in Singapore, January 2011

On November 9, 2006, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice named Michelle Kwan as a public diplomacy ambassador. In this non-salaried position, Kwan represented American values, especially to young people and sports enthusiasts, and traveled widely.<ref name=usat061108 /> Kwan made her first overseas trip in the capacity of public diplomacy ambassador with a visit to China from January 17–25, 2007.<ref name="NapaValleyRegister">Michelle Kwan makes a near flawless transition from skating to diplomacy Template:Webarchive, Napa Valley Register, accessed May 19, 2014.</ref>

Her diplomatic position as an envoy continued in the Barack Obama administration where she worked with then Vice President Joe Biden<ref name=ct100908 /> and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.<ref name=du090606 />

Following her first trip to China as a public diplomacy envoy, Kwan continued her role in subsequent trips to Russia in June 2007,<ref>Russia trip Template:Webarchive, accessed May 20, 2014.</ref> Argentina in March 2008,<ref>Argentina trip Template:Webarchive, accessed May 20, 2014.</ref> Ukraine in February 2009,<ref>Ukraine trip Template:Webarchive, accessed May 20, 2014.</ref> South Korea in January 2010,<ref>South Korea trip Template:Webarchive, accessed May 20, 2014.</ref> and Singapore in January 2011.<ref name=usdos1101 /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On April 15, 2011, it was announced that Kwan would serve as an adviser to the U.S.-China Women's Leadership Exchange and Dialogue (Women-LEAD).<ref name=womenlead /> In December 2012, Kwan was appointed as a State Department senior adviser for public diplomacy and public affairs.<ref name=wp121205 />

In June 2015, Kwan announced that she would support Hillary Clinton's campaign efforts by working on outreach efforts from Clinton's headquarters in Brooklyn.<ref>Hamilton, Meredith. "Michelle Kwan: Hillary Clinton's Newest Political Ally", The Christian Science Monitor, June 5, 2015. Web. November 18, 2015.</ref>

United States ambassador to Belize

File:Secretary Blinken Meets With Ambassador Kwan (52488375156).jpg

Kwan with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in 2022

On December 15, 2021, President Joe Biden announced that he intended to nominate Kwan to be United States ambassador to Belize.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She was formally nominated on January 7, 2022.<ref name=PN1662>Presidential nomination no. 1662 Template:Webarchive, Michelle Kwan, of California, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Belize., 117th Congress, January 7, 2022. Accessed January 10, 2022.</ref> Hearings on her nomination were held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on May 18, 2022. Her nomination was reported favorably by the committee on June 9, 2022.<ref name="PN1662" /> She was confirmed by the Senate with a voice vote on September 29, 2022.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She received her appointment on October 7<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and was sworn in on October 10, 2022.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She presented her credentials to Governor-General of Belize Dame Froyla Tzalam on December 5, 2022.<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref> She is the first Asian American woman to hold the position.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She served in that position through the Biden administration, leaving in January 2025.<ref name=BelizeEmbassyVideo2025-01-17>Template:Cite video</ref>

Filmography

Kwan has guest-starred as herself in The Simpsons episode "Homer and Ned's Hail Mary Pass" and the Family Guy episode "A Hero Sits Next Door". She has also made guest appearances on Arthur (in the season 6 episode "The Good Sport"), Sabrina the Teenage Witch and various other television series. She provided the voice of a shopkeeper in Disney's direct-to-DVD sequel Mulan II, Kwan also did the voice of a fictionalized version of herself called Michelle Kwanzleberry in the series finale of Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! In 2005, she and fellow figure skater Brian Boitano appeared as announcers in the film Ice Princess.

In 1998, Kwan struck a deal with Walt Disney Television that led to her starring in 3 prime-time skating specials on ABC: Reflections on Ice in 1998 (an ice skating adaptation of the Disney film Mulan, based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan), Michelle Kwan Skates to Disney's Greatest Hits in 1999 and Princess on Ice in 2001, with the last special featuring performances by the boy band O-Town and the country music vocal group SHeDAISY.<ref>Reflections on Ice TV special Template:Webarchive
- Disney's Greatest Hits TV special Template:Webarchive
- Princess on Ice TV special </ref> She also appeared in various other televised skating specials throughout her career.

In 1999, she appeared in the Michelle Kwan Figure Skating computer game (released by Electronic Arts).<ref name=Gamespot>EA signs Michelle Kwan Template:Webarchive, Gamespot, accessed May 19, 2014.</ref>

Other activities

File:Michelle Kwan Special Olympics 2010.jpg

Kwan at the Special Olympics Massachusetts, September 25, 2010

Scholastic published an autobiography by Kwan in 1998, titled Heart of a Champion, which is now in its sixth printing.<ref name=USbio />

In 1999, Kwan signed with Disney Publishing Worldwide for an 8-book deal which included an inspirational book for children titled, The Winning Attitude: What it Takes to be a Champion, as well as a series of fictional skating books inspired by Kwan and written by Nola Thacker called "Michelle Kwan presents Skating Dreams".<ref>World Champion Figure Skater Michelle Kwan to author books with Buena Vista Publishing Template:Webarchive, accessed May 19, 2014.</ref>

In 2005, Kwan's family opened the EastWest Ice Palace in Artesia, California. The ice rink houses many of her skating medals and memorabilia.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In January 2009, Kwan was appointed a member of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports by George W. Bush, a role which she had continued into the Obama administration.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link
- Template:Cite news
- {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Kwan has been a longtime supporter of the Special Olympics, taking part in "unified sports" events that bring together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities. In 2011, she was added to the board of directors for the Special Olympics.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Endorsements

Kwan has had many endorsement contracts throughout her career, including Aim Funds,<ref name=CBCsports>Kwan seeks fourth world crown-CBC Template:Webarchive, mentions endorsements for Aim Funds, Chevrolet, Disney, Yoplait, Caress, Campbell's and United Airlines, accessed May 19, 2014.</ref> Campbell's,<ref>"Kwan back on top with national title", Chicago Tribune, accessed May 20, 2014.</ref> Caress soap,<ref>"Kwan signs TV deal with Disney" Template:Webarchive,New York Times, accessed May 20, 2014.</ref> Chevrolet,<ref name="KwanChevroletDeal" /> Coca-Cola,<ref name="NYtimesEndorsements">"Even with no Gold Medal, Michelle Kwan is golden to advertisers" Template:Webarchive New York Times, accessed May 19, 2014.</ref> Disney,<ref name="Goodasgold" /> East West Bank,<ref>"Michelle Kwan – New East West Spokesperson" Template:Webarchive accessed May 20, 2014.</ref> Got Milk?,<ref>"Got milk?" Template:Webarchive, accessed May 19, 2014.</ref> Kraft,<ref>"Kwan to be featured in Kraft Foods Commercial" Template:Webarchive, accessed May 19, 2014.</ref> Mattel,<ref>"Mattel Star Skater Barbie" Template:Webarchive, accessed May 19, 2014.</ref> Maxxis,<ref name="ChicagoTribune">"Goodbye Girl", Chicago Tribune, accessed May 19, 2014</ref> McDonald's,<ref>"Kwan still could take gold with sponsors" Template:Webarchive, USA Today, accessed May 20, 2014.</ref> Minute Maid,<ref name="NYtimesEndorsements" /> Riedell Skates,<ref>"Riedell endorsement" Template:Webarchive, Ad Week, accessed May 19, 2014.</ref> Royal Caribbean International,<ref>Royal Caribbean International Template:Webarchive, accessed May 19, 2014.</ref> Starbucks,<ref name="ChicagoTribune" /> United Airlines,<ref name=CBCsports /> Visa,<ref name="NYtimesEndorsements" /> and Yoplait.<ref name=WhoWillWin />

Kwan's multi-year deal with Chevrolet (starting in 2000) was estimated to be worth over $1 million.<ref name="KwanChevroletDeal">Kwan still a good skate with advertisers, despite odd year Template:Webarchive, Sportsbusinessdaily.com, accessed May 19, 2014.</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>Michelle Kwan's REWARDS scholarship program Template:Webarchive, accessed July 14, 2006.</ref>

In 2002, Kwan was named a "celebrity representative" and spokeswoman for The Walt Disney Company in a three-year deal reported to be worth $1 million a year.<ref name="Goodasgold">"Good as Gold", Los Angeles Times, accessed May 19, 2014.</ref> This deal was renewed and expanded in 2006.<ref>Figure Skating Champion Michelle Kwan To Serve As Celebrity Representative and Spokesperson for Disney Template:Webarchive, February 16, 2006, accessed September 6, 2006</ref>

Personal life

In September 2012, Kwan announced her engagement to Clay Pell, an American lawyer, military officer and former director for strategic planning on the National Security staff at the White House. In February 2014, he declared his candidacy for Governor of Rhode Island.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was unsuccessful in his bid. Pell is the grandson of the late Rhode Island Senator Claiborne Pell. The couple, who met in April 2011,<ref name=people110911 /> were married on January 19, 2013, in Providence, Rhode Island. Vera Wang designed Kwan's wedding gown.<ref name=pj130119 /><ref name=people130119 />

After four years of marriage, Pell filed for divorce from Kwan in March 2017 citing irreconcilable differences.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On January 5, 2022, Kwan announced the birth of her first child, a daughter.<ref>Template:Cite instagram</ref>

Political views and activism

Kwan worked as a surrogate to Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign as an outreach coordinator.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> When asked why she decided to join the campaign she explained, "There was no way that I could sit on the sidelines."<ref name="nymag.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

She added that, for her, supporting Clinton was a no-brainer, given her family's own immigrant history. "Every day I'm reminded about my personal story, about what's at stake in these elections. I think of my parents, and as I look around the room, we probably share similar stories, of how our parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents might have immigrated to the U.S. It's so the next generation of Americans have the ability to dream that dream."<ref name="nymag.com" />

In May 2021, it was announced that Kwan would executive produce "Recipe for Change" for YouTube alongside LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Dennis Cheng, Jamal Henderson and Philip Byron. The special, set to air June 16, 2021 and produced by the SpringHill Company, brings together Asian American celebrities, chefs, activists, and creators to celebrate Asian and Pacific Islanders culture<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and discuss the recent and historic acts of hate and violence against the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders community.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> "Recipe for Change" was nominated for "Outstanding Daytime Special" at the 49th Daytime Creative Arts & Lifestyle Emmy Awards.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Programs

Season	Short program	Free skating	Exhibition
2005–2006 <ref name=bio0506 />	Totentanz by Franz Liszt arranged by Maksim Mrvica choreo. by Tatiana Tarasova	Prelude in C-sharp minor by Sergei Rachmaninoff choreo. by Tatiana Tarasova	A Song for You by Natalie Cole
2004–2005 <ref name=bio0405 />	Adagio from Spartacus by Aram Khachaturian choreo. by Nikolai Morozov	Boléro by Maurice Ravel choreo. by Christopher Dean	You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban This Used To Be My Playground by Madonna
2003–2004 <ref name=bio0304 />	The Feeling Begins (from The Last Temptation of Christ) by Peter Gabriel choreo. by Scott Williams, Michelle Kwan, Karen Kwan and Nikolai Morozov	Tosca by Giacomo Puccini choreo. by Nikolai Morozov	Fallin' by Alicia Keys Boléro by Maurice Ravel choreo. by Christopher Dean
2002–2003 <ref name=bio0203 />		Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquín Rodrigo performed by Ikuko Kawai choreo. by Scott Williams, Michelle Kwan, Karen Kwan, and Nikolai Morozov A csodálatos mandarin (The Miraculous Mandarin) by Béla Bartók choreo. by Peter Oppegard	Fields of Gold by Eva Cassidy
2001–2002 <ref name=bio0102b /><ref name=bio0102a />	Piano Concerto No. 3 Piano Trio No. 2 by Sergei Rachmaninoff choreo. by Lori Nichol East of Eden (music from the 1981 TV miniseries) by Lee Holdridge choreo. by Lori Nichol	Scheherazade by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov performed by New York Philharmonic choreo. by Sarah Kawahara A csodálatos mandarin (The Miraculous Mandarin) by Béla Bartók choreo. by Peter Oppegard
2000–2001 <ref name=bio0001 />	East of Eden (music from the 1981 TV miniseries) by Lee Holdridge choreo. by Lori Nichol Rush (music from the film) by Eric Clapton choreo. by Christopher Dean	O canto do cisne negro (Song of the Black Swan) by Heitor Villa-Lobos Dumky trio by Antonín Dvořák choreo. by Lori Nichol	Beautiful World by Sumi Jo This Time Around by Linda Eder
1999–2000	A Day in the Life by John Lennon, Paul McCartney performed by Jeff Beck choreo. by Lori Nichol	The Red Violin (music from the film) by John Corigliano performed by Joshua Bell choreo. by Lori Nichol	The World Is Not Enough by Garbage Hands (from Joy: A Holiday Collection) by Jewel One More Time from Message in a Bottle by Laura Pausini
1998–1999	Carmen Suite by Rodion Shchedrin Carmen Fantasie by Franz Waxman Carmen (music from the 1983 film) by Paco de Lucia choreo. by Lori Nichol	Ariane Orchestral Suite No. 3 Orchestral Suite No. 6 by Jules Massenet Absalom's Death And Tango by Leonid Desyatnikov performed by Gidon Kremer choreo. by Lori Nichol	Kissing You by Des'ree East of Eden (music for the 1981 TV miniseries) by Lee Holdridge choreo. by Lori Nichol Carmen Suite by Rodion Shchedrin Carmen Fantasie by Franz Waxman Carmen (music from the 1983 film) by Paco de Lucia choreo. by Lori Nichol
1997–1998	Piano Concerto No. 3 Piano Trio No. 2 by Sergei Rachmaninoff choreo. by Lori Nichol	Lyra Angelica by William Alwyn Gymnopedie #3 by Erik Satie choreo. by Lori Nichol	On My Own (from Les Misérables) performed by Kaho Shimada Dante's Prayer by Loreena McKennitt
1996–1997	Orchestral Suite No. 3 by Jules Massenet Finale from Hérodiade by Jules Massenet The Red Poppy by Reinhold Gliere choreo. by Lori Nichol	Gyulistan Bayati Shiraz by Fikret Amirov Lion of the Desert (music from the film) by Maurice Jarre choreo. by Lori Nichol	Winter by Tori Amos choreo. by Michelle Kwan
1995–1996	Romanza by Salvador Bacarisse Fiesta Flamenca by Monty Kelly choreo. by Lori Nichol	Salome by Miklós Rózsa Dance of the Seven Veils by Richard Strauss choreo. by Lori Nichol	East of Eden (music from the 1981 TV miniseries) by Lee Holdridge Just Around the Riverbend (from Pocahontas) by Judy Kuhn choreo. by Lori Nichol
1994–1995	Yellow River Piano Concerto by Xian Xinghai performed by Yin Chengzong, Chu Wanghua	Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso by Camille Saint-Saëns choreo. by Lori Nichol	Fantasia on Greensleeves by Ralph Vaughan Williams East of Eden (music from the 1981 TV miniseries) by Lee Holdridge
1993–1994	Song of India (from Sadko) by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov choreo. by Lori Nichol	East of Eden (music from the 1981 TV miniseries) by Lee Holdridge
1992–1993		Miss Saigon (music from the Broadway musical) by Claude-Michel Schönberg
1991–1992		Concerto in F by George Gershwin

Competitive highlights

Major events for Olympic-eligible skaters include the World Figure Skating Championships, the Olympic Winter Games, the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, and for American skaters, the U.S. Championships. Kwan's record in these events is listed by season in the tables below. Competitive outings.

International<ref name=bio0506/><ref name=bio0405/><ref name=bio0304/><ref name=bio0203/><ref name=bio0102b/><ref name=bio0001/>
Event	Template:Tooltip	92–93	93–94	94–95	95–96	96–97	97–98	98–99	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	01–02	02–03	03–04	04–05
Olympics							2nd				3rd
Worlds			8th	4th	1st	2nd	1st	2nd	1st	1st	2nd	1st	3rd	4th
Template:Small Final					1st	2nd			2nd	2nd	2nd
Template:Small Nations Cup					1st
Template:Small Skate America			7th	2nd	1st	1st	1st		1st	1st	1st	1st
Template:Small Skate Canada					1st		1st		1st	2nd	3rd
Template:Small France				3rd		1st
Goodwill Games			2nd				1st				2nd
International: Junior
Junior Worlds			1st
Gardena		1st Jr.
National
U.S. Champ.	9th J	6th	2nd	2nd	1st	2nd	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st
GP = Became part of Champions Series in 1995–1996, Grand Prix from 1998 to 1999 J. = Junior level, WD = Withdrew, Alt = Alternate (did not compete)

Works cited

• Template:Cite book

External links

• Template:ISU figure skater
• Template:USFSA
• Template:Team USA
• Template:Olympics.com
• Template:Olympedia
• Template:NYT topic
• Template:C-SPAN
• U.S. State Department biography
• Kwan's Salome free skate,1995/1996 Grand Prix Finals