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Michelle Kwan Struggling in Torino
February 11, 2006
Michelle Kwan struggling in Torino
There is no bigger supporter of Michelle Kwan than me. I have supported the decision to put her on this Olympic team. She has earned the opportunity to skate for a third Olympic medal. I have competed along side her since 1994, when we were both Junior skaters. She has shown nothing but class, sportsmanship, and courage through out her stellar career.
But….after seeing that she left practice early, missed 3 of her triple flip attempts, didn’t do a practice run-through of her program, and then spoke to the press laying groundwork for a withdrawal from the competition---there is no question in my mind that she will not compete in these Olympic Games. And I think, if she is practicing this way A WEEK before competing, she should give a healthy Emily Hughes a shot at skating in her first Olympics.
Michelle has an uphill battle for three reasons.
One, she has competed at the World Championships for 10 years, every year earning a medal. The only time she did not get a medal, was the one time she competed under the New judging system. So, she has struggledadapting to the requirements of the new system.
Second, she is trying to make her first competition of the year the Olympics! No skater has ever tried to pull that off. In most cases, the skaters will have at the very least one or two competitions to prepare. She has yet to compete all year!
Third, if the two above challenges aren’t enough….she is trying to pull all of this off with an injury!
If there is any skater in the history of the sport mentally tough enough to beat the odds, it is Michelle Kwan. She has proven her competitiveness, composure, and ability to perform under pressure for over a decade. Is this one too tall of an order?
My opinion is….this might justbe too much to ask of anyone.
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In life, there are no "highs," if there are no "lows." Athletes know this, and accept it . Doesn't make it easier, though.
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Well put Michael.......congrats on your stellar career as well. You're athleticism and grace both in triumph and defeat is admirable. What a great role model for your children and young skaters everywhere. You will be missed.
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There will never be another llike Michelle Kwan. After the Tonya Harding scandal figure skating was something of joke. Then came Kwan. People stopped talking about Nancy & Tonya and began to focus on a child of grace and poise. An Olympic gold will not define her, it will be the whole pack spanning a decade. Let's hope the press does not make this out to be poor Michelle or disminish her wondeerful career. She was and still will be remember as the greatest.
2/19/06 4:16 PM