Road to Torino

I am shocked to read all the Michelle bashing on this site and agree with all who say Michelle is the best figure skater of this past decade. She has been royally scrutinized since Nagano.And I think she should have been awarded the gold there. Maybe she did hold back a little there but her skating and artistry  far outshone Tara Lipinski's  athletics and little girl enthusiasm.  She has been under a microscope at each olympic game she has been to and criticized for one thing or another, yet she has always  been gracious and performed like  a champion. As for saying she was selfish to keep hard working Emily Hughes from going to Torino earlier is absurd. Don't you think Michelle has been hard working also? Like for 9-10 years!!!!! She has been famous and wealthy for years I'm sure but chose to compete all those years because she has such a passion for her sport. like someone else mentioned, the gold medalists at the last 2 olympics never competed in amateur events afterwards. Why? Emily is still young  and her skating needs to mature. If she has as much passion for skating as Michelle has had she has plenty of time ahead of her.
I do think the media puts alot of undue pressure on all olympic atheletes. Let all of them alone and just let them traink,compete and pursue their dreams!!!!!

Whoever said that Sasha Cohen skated beautifully at the U.S. Nationals in January is very wrong....Whereas Sasha is an awesome Short Program skater and has shown that many times......She has still NOT put together an awesome Long Program.....every long program this girl has skated has had flaws.....if it's a two foot landing on a jump or a fall on a jump....It's still a flaw....Sasha needs to put together two terrific perfomances if she wants to win the Olympic Gold Medal....It's not a one performance show.....It's a short program and a long program and until she can skate a great long program then I don't see her winning the gold medal.....The spins, spirals and footwork are all fantastic....but the jumps fail her many times....I do hope she does well and wins the Gold Medal but once again she needs to put her head in the game.....And Michelle Kwan....I give her So Much Credit for doing the right thing....Realizing she couldn't skate and giving Emily Hughes the chance to skate in the Olympics....And for anyone who didn't read the papers.....U.S. Doctors told Michelle Kwan the injury that forced her to withdraw was Not the lingering Groin injury....It was something she aggravated while praticing on Saturday.....So People get your information correct....And Yes I agree NBC needs to Leave the Michelle Kwan Saga alone....I hope she does turn Pro and Has a great Pro Career Like she had a Great Amatuer Career.....Go Michelle.....Enjoy The same Pro Career that Kurt Browning Has lead....Who If anyone doesn't know....Never Won An Olympic Medal!!!!!!!!  Annie

Yes, I applaud Michelle Kwan for her performances and longivity.  Before the new system of judging I also seen her win several times when she shouldn't have.  The press needs to let it go and praise the new and upcoming winners.  Ice Skating will live on without her.