Michelle Kwan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michelle Kwan
Kwan in 2022
United States Ambassador to Belize
In office December 5, 2022 – January 16, 2025
President	Joe Biden
Preceded by	Leyla Moses-Ones (chargé d'affaires)
Succeeded by	David Hodge (chargé d'affaires)
Personal details
Born	(1980-07-07) July 7, 1980 (age 44) Torrance, California, U.S.
Height	5 ft 2 in (157 cm)
Spouse	Clay Pell ​ ​ (m. 2013; div. 2017)​
Children	1
Residences	California, U.S.
Michelle Kwan Personal information Country represented  United States Former coach Rafael Arutyunyan Frank Carroll Scott Williams Former choreographer Tatiana Tarasova Lori Nichol Nikolai Morozov Sarah Kawahara Peter Oppegard Karen Kwan Christopher Dean Skating club Los Angeles FSC Retired 2006 ISU personal best scores Combined total 175.20 2005 Worlds Short program 61.22 2005 Worlds Free skate 113.98 2005 Worlds

Michelle Wingshan Kwan (born July 7, 1980) is a famous American figure skater and a diplomat. She served as the United States Ambassador to Belize from 2022 to 2025.

In figure skating, Michelle Kwan won two Olympic medals. She earned a silver medal in 1998 and a bronze medal in 2002. She was also a five-time world champion (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003). Plus, she won the U.S. championship nine times (1996, 1998–2005).

Michelle Kwan competed at the highest level for over ten years. She is known as the most successful figure skater in U.S. history. People remember her for her amazing consistency and artistic performances on the ice. Many consider her one of the greatest figure skaters ever.

For more than a decade, Kwan was one of America's most popular female athletes. She signed many big endorsement deals and appeared in TV shows. She was also the highest-paid skater on the Champions on Ice tours.

After her skating career, Kwan became involved in politics. In 2022, President Joe Biden chose her to be the U.S. Ambassador to Belize. She started her role on December 5, 2022.

Growing Up and School

Michelle Kwan was born in Torrance, California. She was the third child of Danny and Estella Kwan. Her parents were immigrants from Hong Kong. Michelle grew up speaking both Cantonese and English at home.

Michelle became interested in figure skating at age five. She followed her older siblings, Ron and Karen, onto the ice. Michelle and Karen started serious training when Michelle was about eight. They practiced for hours every day, even waking up at 4:30 AM to skate before school.

Paying for all the skating lessons was tough for their family. When Michelle was ten, her family couldn't afford a coach anymore. But another member of their skating club helped them financially. This allowed them to train at the Ice Castle International Training Center.

Kwan went to Soleado Elementary School. In 1994, when she was in 8th grade, she started being homeschooled. After finishing high school in 1998, she attended UCLA for a year. Later, she studied at the University of Denver and graduated in 2009 with a degree in international studies. In 2011, she earned a graduate degree in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

Michelle Kwan's Skating Career

Michelle Kwan performing her amazing spiral move at a practice session.

Michelle Kwan won five World Championships. This ties her with Carol Heiss for the most world titles by an American skater. Kwan has won nine world medals in total, which is a record for an American skater. Only Sonia Henie has won more world titles.

Kwan also won nine U.S. Championships. This ties the record set by Maribel Vinson-Owen. Michelle holds the record for winning the U.S. title eight times in a row.

She also won a silver medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympics. She earned a bronze medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Kwan received 57 perfect scores (6.0s) in major competitions. This was a record under the old judging system.

Early Competitions

In 1991, Michelle and her sister Karen started training with Frank Carroll. Michelle was 11 and placed 9th at the junior level U.S. Championships. At age 12, she became a senior-level skater. In 1993, Kwan finished sixth at her first senior U.S. championships. The next year, she won the 1994 World Junior Championships.

In 1994, Kwan placed second at the U.S. Championships. This usually would have sent her to the 1994 Olympic Games. However, another skater, Nancy Kerrigan, was given the spot due to an incident. Michelle, who was 13, went to Norway as an alternate but did not compete. At the 1995 World Championships, Kwan finished fourth overall.

Artistry and the 1998 Olympics

In 1996, Michelle started to show a more grown-up and artistic style. She improved her speed and jump technique. She won both the U.S. Championships and the World Championships that year.

In the 1996–97 season, Kwan had some challenges with her jumps. She lost the U.S. title to Tara Lipinski. At the World Championships, she placed second to Lipinski.

Kwan started the 1997–1998 Olympic season by winning Skate America and Skate Canada. She then won her U.S. title back in 1998. Her performances at these championships were considered highlights of her career. She earned fifteen perfect 6.0 scores.

Kwan and Lipinski were top favorites for the 1998 Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan. Kwan was in first place after the short program. In the free skate, she performed well but placed behind Lipinski. Kwan won the silver medal, while Lipinski took the gold.

After the Olympics, Kwan went on to win the 1998 World Championships.

From 1998 to 2002 Olympics

Kwan performing her Scheherazade program in 2001.

Kwan continued to compete after the 1998 Olympics. She won her third national title at the 1999 U.S. Championships. At the 1999 World Championships, she placed second.

In 2000, Kwan won the U.S. Nationals again. At the 2000 World Championships, she was in third place after the short program. But she performed seven triple jumps in her free skate and won the overall title.

During the 2000–2001 season, Kwan started working with famous designer Vera Wang. Wang designed many of her skating costumes. Kwan won the U.S. title again in 2001. At the 2001 World Championships, she won the title with her "Song of the Black Swan" free skate.

Before the 2001 Skate America competition, Kwan and her coach, Frank Carroll, decided to stop working together. Kwan said she needed to take more responsibility for her skating. Without a coach, Kwan won the 2002 U.S. Championships. This secured her spot on the 2002 Olympic team.

At the 2002 Olympics, Kwan was a favorite to win gold. She led after the short program. But in the free skate, she made a couple of mistakes. Sarah Hughes skated a perfect program and won the gold. Kwan earned the bronze medal. After the Olympics, Kwan won the silver medal at the 2002 Worlds.

Later Career and the 2006 Olympics

Kwan skating in the 2004 World Figure Skating Championships.

In 2002, Kwan started working with coach Scott Williams. She continued to compete, but less often. She won every competition she entered in the 2002–2003 season. She won the U.S. Championships and regained her World title.

In 2003, she hired Rafael Arutyunyan as her coach. She aimed to make her programs more difficult. In the 2003–2004 season, Kwan won the U.S. Championships again. At the 2004 World Championships, she placed third overall.

For the 2004–2005 season, Kwan skated her long program to "Boléro". She won her 9th U.S. title, tying the all-time record. At the 2005 World Championship, Kwan competed under a new judging system for the first time. She finished fourth, missing a medal by a very small margin. This was her last competitive event.

2006 Olympics

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

Kwan wanted to compete in the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin, Italy. However, she had a hip injury and had to withdraw from competitions in late 2005. In January 2006, she withdrew from the U.S. Championships due to an abdominal injury.

She asked for a medical waiver to be on the Olympic team. The U.S. Figure Skating Association approved her request. But on February 12, 2006, Kwan announced she had to withdraw from the Games. She had a new groin injury during practice in Turin. She said she "respected the Olympics too much to compete." Emily Hughes took her place on the team.

After withdrawing, Kwan had surgery on her hip in August 2006. She said the surgery allowed her to skate without pain for the first time in four years.

After 2006

Kwan did not compete in the 2006–2007 season. She later decided not to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Instead, she focused on her graduate studies. She wanted to continue representing the U.S. as a Public Diplomacy Envoy.

In 2009, Kwan performed on ice for the first time in several years. She appeared in shows with South Korean world champion Yuna Kim. In 2010, she helped open a new skating rink in Singapore.

Skating Style

Kwan was known for always performing clean programs. She had strong skating skills and smooth, quiet movements on the ice. She was also praised for her musicality and combining grace with athleticism.

Michelle could perform almost all triple jumps in her programs. She often landed difficult combinations, like the triple toe-triple toe. She also had a unique "change of edge spiral" that became her signature move. It was known for its great extension and speed.

Another of her special moves was a Y-spin done on both feet. Kwan was also one of the few skaters who could spin in both directions.

Awards and Honors

Michelle Kwan has received many awards. In 2001, she won the James E. Sullivan Award. This award goes to America's best amateur athlete. She was the first figure skater to win it since 1949. In 2003, she was named the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) "Sportswoman of the Year." She has been named USOC "Athlete of the Month" more than any other athlete.

The "Readers' Choice Figure Skater of the Year" award was renamed the "Michelle Kwan Trophy" in 2003. This was because she won it seven times, more than anyone else.

• In 1999, she received the Historymakers Award from the Los Angeles Chinese American Museum.
• In 2000, People magazine named her one of the 50 most beautiful people.
• She won the Teen Choice Award for favorite female athlete in 2002.
• In 2002 and 2003, she won the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award for favorite female athlete.
• In 2007, the Women's Sports Foundation gave her the Billie Jean Award.
• In 2012, Kwan was inducted into both the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame and the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.
• In 2017, she was inducted into the California Sports Hall of Fame.

Public Life and Diplomacy

Kwan in Singapore, January 2011.

In 2006, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice named Michelle Kwan a public diplomacy ambassador. In this role, Kwan traveled to represent American values, especially to young people. She visited China, Russia, Argentina, Ukraine, South Korea, and Singapore.

Her diplomatic role continued under the Barack Obama administration. She worked with then Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In 2012, Kwan became a senior adviser for public diplomacy at the State Department.

In 2015, Kwan supported Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. She worked on outreach efforts from Clinton's headquarters.

United States Ambassador to Belize

Kwan with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in 2022.

On December 15, 2021, President Joe Biden announced his plan to nominate Kwan as the United States Ambassador to Belize. She was formally nominated in January 2022. The Senate confirmed her nomination on September 29, 2022. She was sworn in on October 10, 2022.

She presented her credentials to the Governor-General of Belize on December 5, 2022. Michelle Kwan is the first Asian American woman to hold this position. She will serve in this role until January 2025.

TV and Movies

Kwan has appeared as herself in TV shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy. She also made guest appearances on Arthur and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. She voiced a character in Disney's Mulan II. She also voiced Michelle Kwanzleberry in Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! and was an announcer in the movie Ice Princess.

In 1998, Kwan made a deal with Walt Disney Television. This led to her starring in three prime-time skating specials on ABC. These included Reflections on Ice (based on Mulan) and Princess on Ice.

Other Activities

Scholastic published Michelle Kwan's autobiography, Heart of a Champion, in 1998. In 1999, she signed a deal with Disney Publishing for eight books. These included an inspirational book for kids called The Winning Attitude: What it Takes to be a Champion.

In 2005, Kwan's family opened the EastWest Ice Palace in Artesia, California. This ice rink displays many of her skating medals and memorabilia.

In 2009, Kwan was appointed to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. She has also been a strong supporter of the Special Olympics. In 2011, she joined the board of directors for the Special Olympics.

Endorsements

Michelle Kwan has had many endorsement deals throughout her career. She worked with companies like Coca-Cola, Disney, McDonald's, and Visa. Her multi-year deal with Chevrolet was worth over $1 million. In 2002, she became a "celebrity representative" for The Walt Disney Company in a deal worth about $1 million a year.

Personal Life

In September 2012, Michelle Kwan announced her engagement to Clay Pell. He is an American lawyer and military officer. They were married on January 19, 2013. Their marriage ended in 2017.

On January 5, 2022, Michelle Kwan announced the birth of her first child, a daughter named Kalista Belle Kwan.

Political Involvement

Kwan worked for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. She said she felt it was important to support Clinton. She explained that her family's immigrant history made her passionate about the elections. She wanted to ensure that the next generation of Americans could still achieve their dreams.

In May 2021, Kwan became an executive producer for "Recipe for Change" on YouTube. This special brought together Asian American celebrities, chefs, and activists. They celebrated Asian and Pacific Islanders culture and discussed hate and violence against the community.

Images for kids

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  Michelle Kwan performing her amazing spiral move at a practice session.

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  Kwan performing her Scheherazade program in 2001.

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  Kwan skating in the 2004 World Figure Skating Championships.

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

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  Kwan in Singapore, January 2011.

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  Kwan with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in 2022.

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  Kwan at the Special Olympics Massachusetts, September 25, 2010.

Competitive Highlights

Michelle Kwan's results in major skating events are listed below.

See also

In Spanish: Michelle Kwan para niños