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 45) 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 Skating club Los Angeles FSC Retired 2006

Michelle Wingshan Kwan, born on July 7, 1980, is a famous American figure skater and diplomat. She is known for her amazing talent on the ice. Michelle won two Olympic medals: a silver in 1998 and a bronze in 2002. She also became a world champion five times and a U.S. champion nine times. Many people consider her one of the best figure skaters ever.

After her incredible skating career, Michelle Kwan became involved in public service. She served as the United States Ambassador to Belize from 2022 until January 16, 2025. This role meant she represented the U.S. in Belize.

Her Early Life and School

Michelle Kwan was born in Torrance, California. Her parents, Danny and Estella Kwan, moved to the U.S. from Hong Kong. Michelle grew up speaking both Cantonese and English at home.

Michelle started figure skating at age five, following her older siblings onto the ice. She and her sister, Karen, began serious training around age eight. They woke up very early to skate before school and then returned to the rink afterward.

Skating lessons and ice time were expensive for her family. When Michelle was ten, her family received help from a skating club member. This allowed her to continue training at a special center in Lake Arrowhead, California.

Michelle went to Soleado Elementary School. In 1994, when she was in 8th grade, she started homeschooling to focus on her skating. After high school, she attended University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for a year.

Later, in 2006, Michelle transferred to the University of Denver. This was a big change for her, as she became a full-time student after years of being a full-time skater with tutors. She had surgery to help with an old hip injury around this time, but it didn't stop her.

While at the University of Denver, Michelle had an internship in international studies. She was chosen by Condoleezza Rice, a former U.S. Secretary of State, to be an American Public Diplomacy Envoy. In this role, Michelle traveled to different countries. She shared her story to help people understand America better.

Michelle learned to balance her studies with her travels. She often took exams right after long flights. In 2009, she earned a bachelor's degree in international studies. She then continued her education, getting a master's degree in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in 2011.

Michelle's Amazing Skating Career

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

Michelle Kwan achieved incredible success in figure skating. She won five World Championships and nine U.S. Championships. This tied records for the most wins by an American skater. She also holds the record for the most consecutive U.S. titles.

Michelle earned a silver medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics. She received 57 perfect scores (6.0s) in major competitions. This was a record under the old judging system.

Starting Her Journey in Skating

In 1991, Michelle and her sister Karen began training with coach Frank Carroll. Michelle was 11 when she placed 9th at the junior level of the U.S. Championships. By age 12, she became a senior-level skater.

In 1993, Michelle finished sixth at her first senior U.S. championships. The next year, she won the World Junior Championships.

In 1994, Michelle placed second at the U.S. Championships. This usually meant a spot on the Olympic team. However, another skater, Nancy Kerrigan, was recovering from an incident. So, Nancy took the spot, and 13-year-old Michelle went to the Olympics as an alternate. She did not compete.

At the 1995 World Championships, Michelle finished fourth overall. She performed her best free skate yet, landing all seven triple jumps.

Growing as an Artist and the 1998 Olympics

During the 1995 season, Michelle started to develop a more mature and expressive skating style. She improved her speed and jump technique. Her coaches wanted her to show more artistry on the ice.

Michelle won both the U.S. Championships and the World Championships in 1996. She was one of the youngest skaters to hold both titles. She became known for her consistent and well-rounded performances.

In the 1996–97 season, Michelle faced challenges with her jumps due to a growth spurt. She placed second at the U.S. Nationals and the World Championships, behind Tara Lipinski.

Leading up to the 1998 Olympics, the media highlighted the friendly competition between Kwan and Lipinski. Michelle won the 1998 U.S. National Championships. Many people remember her performances there as highlights of her career.

At the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan, Michelle was a favorite to win. She led after the short program. In the free skate, she performed well but placed second to Tara Lipinski. Michelle earned the silver medal. After the Olympics, Michelle won the 1998 World Championships.

From 1998 to the 2002 Olympics

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

Michelle 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.

Her win at the 2000 U.S. Nationals had some discussion. She had a small mistake in her short program. However, she won the free skate with an excellent performance, earning her the title. She also won the 2000 World Championships.

From 2000 to 2001, Michelle worked with famous designer Vera Wang for her costumes. She won the U.S. title again in 2001. She also won the 2001 World Championships with a beautiful free skate.

Before the 2001 Skate America competition, Michelle and her coach, Frank Carroll, decided to part ways. Michelle said she wanted to take more responsibility for her skating. She then won the 2002 U.S. Championships without a coach.

Kwan performing her short program at the 2002 Winter Olympics

At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Michelle was a top contender for gold. She led after the short program. However, she made a few mistakes in her free skate. She earned the bronze medal, while Sarah Hughes won gold. Michelle finished her season with a silver medal at the 2002 World Championships.

Skating from 2002 to 2006

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

Michelle started working with coach Scott Williams in 2002. She competed less often but continued to excel. She won 2002 Skate America and qualified for the Grand Prix Final, but chose not to compete.

Michelle 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 coach Rafael Arutyunyan to improve her technical skills.

She won the U.S. Championships again in 2004. At the 2004 World Championships, she placed third overall. She received the last perfect 6.0 marks ever given at the World Championships.

In the 2004–2005 season, Michelle skated her long program to "Boléro". She won her 9th U.S. title, tying an all-time record. At the 2005 World Championships, she finished fourth. This was her last competitive event.

The 2006 Olympics and Beyond

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

Michelle aimed to qualify for the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin, Italy. However, a hip injury forced her to withdraw from competitions in late 2005. She later withdrew from the U.S. Championships due to an abdominal injury.

She petitioned for a medical waiver to join the Olympic team, which was approved. But on February 12, 2006, Michelle withdrew from the Games after a new groin injury. She felt she respected the Olympics too much to compete while injured. Emily Hughes replaced her on the team.

After the Olympics, Michelle had surgery in August 2006 to fix an old hip injury. She said this allowed her to skate without pain for the first time in years.

Michelle did not compete in the 2006–2007 season. She later decided not to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics, choosing to focus on her education and diplomatic work instead.

In 2009, Michelle performed on ice again at a show in South Korea. She also appeared in other skating shows. In 2010, she helped open a new skating rink in Singapore.

How Michelle Skated: Her Unique Style

Michelle Kwan was known for her amazing consistency in her programs. She had strong skating skills and smooth, quiet movements on the ice. She was also praised for her musicality and how she combined grace with athleticism.

Throughout most of her career, Michelle included many difficult triple jumps in her programs. She often landed the triple toe-triple toe combination. In the 2004–2005 season, she added a triple flip-double toe-double loop combination.

Starting in 1996, Michelle debuted a special change of edge spiral that became her signature move. It was famous for its extension, speed, and smooth change of edge. She also brought back a rare move called the Charlotte spiral.

Her split falling leaf was admired by skating legends for its effortlessness. Michelle could even do several of these jumps in a row. Another of her trademark moves was a Y-spin done on both feet. She was also one of the few skaters who could spin in both directions.

Awards and Special Honors

Michelle Kwan has received many awards for her achievements. In 2001, she won the James E. Sullivan Award, given to America's best amateur athlete. She was the first figure skater to win it since 1949.

In 2003, the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) named her "Sportswoman of the Year." She was also named USOC "Athlete of the Month" fourteen times, 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 an amazing seven times.

• 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 honored her with the Billie Jean Award.
• In 2012, Michelle 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.

Michelle's Public Roles

Working as a Diplomat

Kwan in Singapore, January 2011

In 2006, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice named Michelle Kwan a public diplomacy ambassador. In this role, Michelle traveled to different countries. She shared American values and her personal story, especially with young people.

She made her first trip as an ambassador to China in 2007. She continued this role during the Barack Obama administration, working with Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Michelle made diplomatic trips to Russia, Argentina, Ukraine, South Korea, and Singapore. In 2011, she became an adviser for the U.S.-China Women's Leadership Exchange and Dialogue. In 2012, she was appointed a senior adviser for public diplomacy at the State Department.

In 2015, Michelle supported Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. She worked on outreach efforts, explaining that her family's immigrant history inspired her.

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 Michelle Kwan as the United States Ambassador to Belize. She was officially nominated in January 2022.

The Senate confirmed her nomination on September 29, 2022. She took her oath of office on October 10, 2022. Michelle presented her credentials to the Governor-General of Belize on December 5, 2022. She was the first Asian American woman to hold this position. Her term as ambassador concluded on January 16, 2025.

On TV and in Movies

Michelle 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 lent her voice to a shopkeeper in Disney's movie Mulan II. In 2005, she and fellow skater Brian Boitano were announcers in the film Ice Princess.

In 1998, Michelle 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 and Princess on Ice.

In 1999, she appeared in the Michelle Kwan Figure Skating computer game.

Other Activities and Causes

Kwan at the Special Olympics Massachusetts, September 25, 2010

Scholastic published Michelle's autobiography, Heart of a Champion, in 1998. She also signed a deal with Disney Publishing for eight books. This included an inspirational book for children called The Winning Attitude: What it Takes to be a Champion.

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

In 2009, Michelle was appointed to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. She has also been a longtime supporter of the Special Olympics. She joined their board of directors in 2011.

Endorsement Deals

Michelle Kwan had many endorsement contracts throughout her career. These included deals with companies like Coca-Cola, Disney, McDonald's, and Visa.

Her multi-year deal with Chevrolet, starting in 2000, was worth over $1 million. Chevrolet also created a scholarship program with her. In 2002, she became a "celebrity representative" for The Walt Disney Company. This deal was worth about $1 million a year.

Her Personal Life

In September 2012, Michelle Kwan announced her engagement to Clay Pell. He is an American lawyer and military officer. They met in April 2011 and were married on January 19, 2013, in Providence, Rhode Island.

After four years, Michelle and Clay decided to go their separate ways. On January 5, 2022, Michelle announced the birth of her first child, a daughter.

Michelle worked as an outreach coordinator for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. She explained that her family's immigrant history inspired her to support the campaign.

In 2021, Michelle was an executive producer for "Recipe for Change" on YouTube. This special brought together Asian American celebrities, chefs, and activists. They celebrated Asian and Pacific Islander culture and discussed acts of hate and violence against the community. The special was nominated for an Emmy Award.

Skating Programs

Competition Results

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.

See also

In Spanish: Michelle Kwan para niños