Michelle Kwan
figure skater and US goodwill ambassador

For every Mark Spitz who wins nine gold medals, there is a Michelle Kwan who wins none. The 26-year old has won nine United States figure skating championships and four world titles, but her dream of Olympic gold has always eluded her. Still, Kwan has never allowed her shortfalls to define her career and despite never having won Olympic gold, she is widely considered to be one of the best and most decorated figure skaters of all-time.

Kwan was born on July 7, 1980 in Torrance, California. The third child of Chinese immigrants, her penchant for skating developed as she followed her two siblings to the rink. By the time she was 7, Michelle joined her older sister and began figure skating. Kwan’s parents worked several jobs and even sold the family home to pay for their children’s training and ice time, but they ultimately could not afford the coaching and rink fees. Fortunately for Kwan and her family, a member of a local figure skating club noticed the children’s talent and agreed to finance their training.

Just a few years after beginning her formal training, the 11-year old Kwan placed ninth at the United States Juniors tournament. She won the World Junior title in 1994, and advanced to the level of senior-level competition shortly thereafter. Still, Kwan is probably best known for her performances at the Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan in 1998. Although she was the clear favorite to win Olympic gold, Kwan’s routines were too conservative, and the judges awarded her second place.

Kwan was disappointed with the results in Nagano, but she bounced back quickly. She won the world championship in 1998, 2000, and 2001 and took two more US titles as well. In 2002, Kwan sustained further disappointment at the Salt Lake City Olympics when she fell during her free skate program and returned home to California with a bronze medal.

Once again, Kwan recovered to win another US championship title. After winning again in 2005, she tied the all-time record with 9 total national championship wins. She was slated to perform at the Olympics in Turin the following year, but a groin injury left her unable to compete. Injured and forced to take a hiatus from skating, Kwan began to pursue her second passion: politics. In 2006, Condoleeza Rice offered Kwan, a political science and international relations major at the University of Denver, a position as a volunteer US goodwill ambassador. Kwan’s personal success attests to what she calls “America’s story” of hope, and she wants to share that story with children around the world. As Undersecretary of State Karen Hughes commented, Kwan’s mission as goodwill ambassador is to reach young people abroad who are being exposed to hate and propaganda directed against our country.”

Of course, volunteer work is nothing new for Kwan. She was previously a spokeswoman for Children’s Miracle Network, and she partnered with Chevrolet to sponsor a R.E.W.A.R.D.S. scholarship program for young people. Furthermore, she authored an inspirational book for children entitled The Winning Attitude: What It Takes to Be A Champion.

Although Kwan is very involved with her volunteer work, diplomatic duties, and education, she has not retired for good from the world of skating. After undergoing surgery in 2006 to repair an old hip injury, she expressed her intent to return to the ice in the near future. If Kwan does compete again, it will be the homecoming of a champion. Although she has never realized her dream of winning an Olympic gold medal, Kwan is a woman on top – both on and off the ice. Indeed, she understands better than most that being the best sometimes means giving up one dream gracefully while working to embrace all others.