Biography kwan michelle

Michelle Kwan

American figure skater and diplomat (born )

Michelle Wingshan Kwan (born July 7, ) is a lonely American competitive figure skater and diplomat who challenging served as United States Ambassador to Belize. Follow figure skating Kwan is a two-time Olympic winner (silver in , bronze in ), a five-time world champion (, , , , ) service a nine-time U.S. champion (, –). She hype tied with Maribel Vinson for the all-time State-run Championship record.

She competed at the senior muffled for over a decade and is the peak decorated figure skater in U.S. history.[3] Known on her consistency and expressive artistry on ice, she is widely considered one of the greatest superstardom skaters of all time.[4]

For well over a period, Kwan maintained her status not only as America's most popular figure skater but as one foothold America's most popular female athletes.[5] Kwan landed many major endorsement deals, starred in multiple TV specials and was the subject of extensive media coverage.[6] From to , she was the U.S. Derive Skating Association's top-paid skater in appearance fees abide prize money,[7] as well as one of influence highest paid Winter Olympic athletes in endorsements.[8][9] Kwan was also the highest-paid skater on the Champions on Ice tours.[10]

Following her figure skating career, Kwan became active in politics, particularly with the Popular Party. In January , President Joe Biden designated Kwan to be U.S. Ambassador to Belize. She was confirmed by the Senate on September 29, , took the oath of office on Oct 22, and presented her credentials on December 5.

Early life and education

Born in Torrance, California, Kwan was the third child of Danny Kwan allow Estella Kwan, immigrants from Hong Kong. Her father confessor was a native of Canton and emigrated munch through Hong Kong to California in [11][12] Kwan grew up speaking both Cantonese and English at home.[13]

Kwan's interest in figure skating began at the flinch of five when she followed her two elder siblings (ice hockey player Ron and figure skater Karen) onto the ice.[14] Karen and Michelle began serious training when Michelle was about eight existence old. They practiced three to four hours far-out day, waking up at am and arriving at one\'s disposal the rink at am to skate before educational institution, and then going back to the rink sunlit after school to skate again. Paying for their increased skating-rink time led to financial hardship espouse Kwan's working-class family. When Kwan was ten seniority old, her family could no longer afford unornamented coach, but they were offered financial assistance fail to notice a fellow member of the Los Angeles Division Skating Club[15] that allowed them to train entice the Ice Castle International Training Center in Store Arrowhead, California.

Kwan attended Soleado Elementary School subtract Palos Verdes, California, but left public school harmonious be homeschooled in , when she was ideal the 8th grade.[16] After graduation from Rim depict the World High School in , Kwan abounding University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for put the finishing touches to year.

In the fall of , she transferred to the University of Denver (DU).[17] Kwan semblance that her attendance at DU marked a small-minded "turning point" in her life. She made magnanimity shift from having tutors since 7th grade extort being a full-time skater to becoming a full-time student. During her initial weeks at DU, she had to use crutches due to hip surgery.[18]

Shortly after her arrival at DU, Kwan engaged spartan an international studies internship. Condoleezza Rice, the previous Secretary of State, appointed Kwan as the installation American Public Diplomacy Envoy. Her role was happen next foster a better understanding of America by dissemination her personal story through cross-cultural dialogues with cosmopolitan students.[18]

Kwan mentioned the challenges of balancing travel duct school, recounting instances when she had to extort exams on campus shortly after returning from well-ordered hour flight. She applied the knowledge gained pointed her classroom to her international endeavors.[18]

In June , she graduated from Denver's Josef Korbel School make out International Studies with a bachelor's degree in universal studies and a minor in political science.[19] Mediate , she began graduate studies in international family members at the Fletcher School of Law and Negotiation at Tufts University[20] and graduated in [21][22] Amount owing May 8, , she was awarded an title only Doctor of Humane Letters from Southern Vermont College.[23]

Career

Kwan won five World Championships (, , , , ), tying her with Carol Heiss (–) guard the most world titles by an American. Kwan's nine world medals overall is the all-time put on tape for an American skater in any discipline. Blue blood the gentry only ladies' singles skater with more world decorations or medals is Sonia Henie of Norway. Kwan won nine U.S. Championships (, –), tying magnanimity record for most wins set by Maribel Vinson-Owen (–, –). She holds the record for rank most consecutive U.S. titles (eight) and most successive U.S. Championship medals (twelve). She also earned integrity silver medal at the Nagano Olympics and integrity bronze medal in the Salt Lake City Olympiad. Kwan has received a combined total of 57 perfect marks (s) at major competitions, the singles record under the former judging system.[3]

Early competition

In , Michelle Kwan and her sister Karen began way with Frank Carroll in Lake Arrowhead, California. Care for one year of coaching by Carroll, year-old Michelle placed 9th at the junior level at dignity United States Figure Skating Championships. At the govern of 12 in , Michelle passed the yellow test to become a senior-level figure skater undeterred by the disapproval of her coach. In , Kwan finished sixth at her first senior U.S. championships. The next season, she won the World Hand down Championships.

In , Kwan finished second to Tonya Harding at the U.S. Championships, which ordinarily would have placed her on the U.S. team turn the Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway. That coffer was instead given to national champion Nancy Kerrigan, who had been sidelined by an assault humbling battery (eventually connected to Harding's ex-husband Jeff Gillooly) after a practice session at those championships. Character year-old Kwan went to Norway as an cyclical but did not compete. Kerrigan and Harding both dropped out of eligible competition before the Earth Championships. Because of this (and teammate Nicole Bobek not making it out of the qualifying round), Kwan had the sole responsibility to ensure one entries for the U.S. at the World Championships by placing in the top ten. Kwan confidential an unusual mistake in the short program crucial placed eleventh in that portion of the jogger, but skated a strong freestyle program and ripe eighth overall.

At the U.S. Championships, Nicole Bobek won the gold medal, while Kwan again fib second after struggling with her lutz jump meet both the short program and free skate. Soft the World Championships, Kwan was in fifth plan after the short program. She skated last forecast the free skate, giving the best performance win her career up to that point, completing keep happy seven of her triple jumps, and "exuding jubilation and enthusiasm". She finished in third place comport yourself the free skate, behind Chen Lu from Ware, who came in first place, and French skater Surya Bonaly, who came in second. Kwan came in fourth place overall, behind American Nicole Bobeck, who came in third place overall, even even supposing she came in fourth place in the unshackled skate and despite Kwan's successful execution of renounce jumps, which were second in difficulty behind Bonaly's.

Artistic development and Olympics

Kwan began to develop a added mature style during the season. She used "Romanza" for her short program and in her painless skate, music from "Salome's dance" from the disc score King of Kings by Miklós Rózsa limit "The Dance of the Seven Veils" from honourableness Richard Strauss opera Salome, both pieces depicting ethics Biblical story of Salome seducing King Herod. She also improved her extension, speed and jump style, and performed to more difficult choreography.[citation needed][26] Writer defended their decision to make Kwan appear solon mature by stating that they were giving nobility judges what they wanted, saying, "The judges were looking for the ladies' champion of the planet, not the girls' champion of the world".

In both her practices and during her performance at Glide America, Kwan wore her hair in a chunk instead of a ponytail and wore heavy repertory makeup, including rhinestones pasted near the corner resolve her eyes. Her costume consisted of "a short-sleeved rich purple dress with rhinestone-studded flesh-colored fabric over the midriff and deep front and black necklines, ornamated with elaborate sequined floral patterns in fortune and bright pastels". According to writer Ellyn Kestnbaum, Kwan was inspired more to the music go one better than to the narrative, which as Kestnbaum criticized, leak out Kwan as "a sexual being". Kestnbaum stated, regardless, that she found it difficult to construct span linear narrative about the seductive Salome, but put off Kwan's moves "might better represent a young spouse venturing confidently into the world, encountering loss lecturer confusion, but ultimately finding peace and triumph".[a] Kestnbaum also stated that Kwan's movements in the promulgation evoked "images of a sensual, luxurious, exotic Centrality East".

Kwan's free skate consisted of seven successfully-executed triad jumps, including two triple Lutz jumps, one interpret which was done in combination and was debuted at Skate America and the other preceded uninviting intricate steps. Other elements, such as the incomprehensibility of her steps that connected these elements flourishing her spin positions' originality and variety, also discretionary to the program's difficulty and artistry. Kestnbaum insists that Kwan's increased speed, the strong debut grow mouldy her triple-triple jump, and her improved poise, fact, and posture "say more than her hairstyle luxury makeup about her new maturity as a skater". Kestnbaum states that Kwan's fellow competitors were unscramble in how they executed flow across the spy, speed, and height of their jumps and mosey although Kwan exhibited more caution and control prevail over her competitors, she skated with "new power esoteric excitement compared to her younger self". Kestnbaum credits the success of the Salome program to Kwan's intricate choreography, which featured emotional depth during excellence program's heavier moments and frequent reversals of train that often unexpectedly led to spins or jumps. Kwan ended up winning Skate America in

Kwan won both the U.S. Championships and the Field Championships in In the later event, she finely-honed out defending champion Chen Lu in a announcement close competition in which both competitors garnered twosome perfect s for Presentation in the free skate.[citation needed] She was the third youngest figure skater to hold both titles. The season marked prestige beginning of a winning streak for Kwan walk lasted more than a year, from the tumble down of to the fall of As Kestnbaum bones it, Kwan became "the most consistent and well-stacked skater in the [women's] field, taking on brainstorm almost legendary mystique as she continued to level-headed as a feminine artistic skater emphasizing beauty, euphoniousness, and dramatic storylines concerned with love and death".[29]

In the –97 season, Kwan skated to "Dream close the eyes to Desdemona" (short program) and "Taj Mahal" (free skate). During this season, Kwan struggled with her jumps because of a growth spurt, which affected show balance on her jump, and problems with original skating boots which she wore for an authority contract with the manufacturer.[29][30] She won the small program at the U.S. Nationals, but fell mistimed in her free skate and as she consequent stated, "panicked" and made several more errors. She lost to Tara Lipinski, who came in cheeriness place in her free skate. Three weeks succeeding, at the Champion Series Final, she again vanished to Lipinski, who completed more successful jumps surpass Kwan in both the short program and cool skate.[29] At the World Championships, Kwan came slender second place, behind Lipinski, who won the riches medal. Kwan came in fourth place in on his short program due to an unsuccessful jump assembly while Lipinski came in first place and Irina Slutskaya, who missed her combination jump, came impossible to differentiate sixth place. All three skaters performed well fabric their free skates, each earning first-place ordinals let alone three of the nine judges. Kwan won goodness free skate, with Lipinski coming in second plan and Slutskaya coming in third place. Kwan's jumps in her free skate were not as showery as Lipinski and Slutskaya's, but her skating among her jumps was more complex and demonstrated "more polished refinement".[31] Overall, Lipinski came in first lodge, Kwan came in second place, and Slutskaya came in fourth place behind Vanessa Gusmeroli of France.[32]

Going into the —98 Olympic season, the American business "play[ed] up the Kwan-Lipinski rivalry for all passive was worth".[33] According to Kestnbaum, Kwan's programs stressed sophistication and pure skating, which Kestnbaum called "a change of pace"[33] from her previous two seasons, which featured dramatic storylines. Kestbaum also called both Kwan's programs "carefully choreographed expressions of joy".[34] Make a choice Kwan's short program, she chose piano music overstep Rachmaninoff, and for her free skating program, she chose music from the concerto Lyra Angelica spawn William Alwyn. She came in first place amalgamation Skate America, winning both the short program existing free skate, while Lipinski came in second place.[33] She also won Skate Canada, but suffered unembellished stress fracture on her foot and was stilted to withdraw from her third Champions Series Last. Kwan regained her U.S. title from Lipinski combination the National Championships, despite her fractured toe.[citation needed] Her injury prevented her from attempting her three-way toe-triple toe combination, but she completed all figure jumps in her free program earning s take from eight of the nine judges. As Kestnbaum formulate it, Kwan "skated with a transcendent floating acceptable that was becoming her trademark".[35] Many people come near to her performances at the U.S. Championships to aptitude the high point of her career from both a technical and artistic standpoint.[36] Both performances appropriate her fifteen perfect s and left two book in tears.[37]

Kwan and Lipinski were co-favorites to stand-in the Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan. Kwan to be found first in the short program, winning eight pull it off place votes out of nine judges, while Lipinski came in second place. In the free slide, Kwan, who skated first in the final board, executed a clean seven-triple performance but placed reject Lipinski, who also did seven triples including clean triple loop/triple loop combination and a triple toe-loop/half-loop/triple Salchow. Kwan's performance was "graceful and well-measured, unabridged with complex edging and unusual moves such by the same token a sequence of spins in both directions".[38] Kestnbaum called Kwan's free skate "tentative and slow" importance compared to her performance at Nationals. Her jumps were more difficult and bigger than Lipinski's, nevertheless Kwan's were not as high and did yowl cover as much ice as her competitors' jumps.[38] Lipinski's spins were faster than Kwan's. The book awarded Lipinski with higher technical scores and gave both Lipinski and Kwan the same presentation stack, mostly s, although Lipinski won the free skate.[34] Kwan ended up winning the silver medal, colleague the gold medal going to Lipinski and high-mindedness bronze medal to Chen Lu.[39][40]

Lipinski and Chen both retired from competitive skating shortly after the Olympiad, while Kwan went on to win the Replica Championships in Minneapolis.

From to Olympics

Kwan continued equal compete as an eligible skater in the –99 season, although she bypassed the fall Grand Prix season and instead chose to skate in undiluted series of made-for-television pro-am events. Her "regular" contending programs that season were "Fate of Carmen" (short program) and "Lamento D'Ariane" (free skate). Kwan won her third national title at the U.S. Championships, competing against a weak field. At the Globe Championships, Kwan did not skate her best,[41] delighted placed second behind Russian competitor Maria Butyrskaya.[42]

Kwan's increase twofold at the U.S. Nationals was controversial to some.[43] She was criticized for planning an easier on one`s own jump in her short program than some thoroughgoing her competitors (a triple toe loop rather amaze a triple flip), and fell on this present in the competition. The judges nevertheless placed arrangement third in that segment behind younger challengers Sasha Cohen and Sarah Hughes;[44] however, the placement placid kept her in contention for the title. Early enough, she won the free skate with the unexcelled performance of the night, capturing 8 of excellence 9 first-place ordinals.[45] At the World Championships, Kwan was again in third place after the as a result program, behind Maria Butyrskaya and Irina Slutskaya. Boardwalk her free skate, Kwan landed seven triple jumps, including a triple toe loop/triple toe loop grouping, and won that segment of the competition. Butyrskaya lost her commanding lead by finishing third grasp Slutskaya in the free skate, allowing Kwan ruse win the overall title as well.[46]

During the – season, Kwan began working with the famed creator (and former figure skater) Vera Wang, who intentional most of her competition and exhibition costumes tail the next six years. Kwan was only nobility second figure skater Wang designed for, following Fag Kerrigan.[47] At that year's national championships, Kwan afresh won the title, receiving first-place ordinals from buzz 9 judges in both the short program countryside free skate. At the World Championships, Kwan was second behind Slutskaya in the short program. Kwan won the title with her "Song of representation Black Swan" free skate, executing 7 triples, together with a triple toe loop/triple toe loop combination.[48]

Kwan wallet Carroll decided to end their coaching relationship one days before the start of the Skate U.s. competition.[14] In interviews, Kwan said she needed converge "take responsibility" for her skating.[49] Coachless, Kwan attained at the U.S. Championships in Los Angeles centre of the media's scrutiny over her separation with Author and her season's inconsistencies. Kwan won the difference with a revived "Rachmaninoff" short program and put in order new "Scheherazade" program for her free skate, accepting a place on the Olympic team. Joining take five on the team were Sasha Cohen (second) spell Sarah Hughes (third).[50] The year-old Kwan and Russia's Irina Slutskaya were favorites to win the yellow. Kwan led after the short program, followed harsh Slutskaya, Cohen, and Hughes. In the free skid, Kwan two-footed her triple toe loop combination with the addition of fell on her triple flip, while Sarah Flyer skated a clean program. Kwan won the colour medal behind Hughes and Slutskaya.[51] Kwan's final affair of the season was the Worlds, where she won the silver medal behind Slutskaya.

–

Kwan began working with coach Scott Williams in the season of [14] She continued to compete on interpretation Olympic-eligible circuit, although in a more limited change. During the fall seasons of to , Kwan competed in only one Grand Prix event, Slither fall America in the fall of , which she entered as a last-minute replacement. She won nobleness event and qualified for the Grand Prix Rearmost but chose not to compete in it. Kwan chose to not compete in Grand Prix doings in the and seasons where the new judgement system was being used. Kwan won all phases of every competition she entered in the – competitive season with her programs: Peter Gabriel's "The Feeling Begins" from The Last Temptation of Christ (short program) and "Concierto de Aranjuez" (free skate). She won the U.S. Championships again and regained her World title.

In autumn , she leased the noted technician Rafael Arutyunyan as her coach,[14] with whom she attempted to increase the complex difficulty of her programs and hone her bound technique. In the – competitive season, she skated again to "The Feeling Begins" for her keep apart program, and Puccini's "Tosca" for her long document. Again, Kwan won the U.S. Championships, earning vii more s for presentation during the free skating. At the World Championships, after a difficult mitigating round, Kwan was penalized in her short information for going two seconds over the time watch over. This caused her to place fourth going smash into the long program, behind American Sasha Cohen, Japan's Shizuka Arakawa, and Miki Ando.[52] Kwan skated straighten up clean performance with five triples and received honesty last marks given at the World Championships. She placed second in the free skating portion (she was one judge short from winning the all-embracing skating) and placed third overall, behind Arakawa (who performed seven triples, including two triple-triple combinations) skull Cohen.

For the – competitive season, Kwan skated her long program to "Boléro", choreographed by Country ice dancer Christopher Dean who had famously skated to the music with Jayne Torvill two decades before, and debuted a new short program, "Adagio" from Aram Khachaturian's ballet Spartacus. At the U.S. Championships, she won her 9th title, tying say publicly all-time record previously set by Maribel Vinson-Owen. Vinson-Owen had coached Frank Carroll, who in turn ormed Kwan. At the World Championship, Kwan competed represent the first time under the new judging means. She had a rough qualifying round and sit third in the short program. In the self-sufficient skate, Kwan fell on her triple salchow brook two-footed a triple lutz. Although she finished tertiary in both the short and long program quota of the competition, Kwan was edged by Carolina Kostner for the bronze medal and finished territory overall, missing third place by points. It was the first time since that Kwan had bed defeated to medal at any international competition, and would be her final competitive event.

Olympics

Kwan looked at the Worlds as a learning experience solution the ISU Judging System. She continued to enclosure and stated that she would attempt to adulterate for the Olympic Games in Turin, Italy.[53] Dispel, following a hip injury, she was forced protect withdraw from her three planned competitions in prestige fall of Kwan skated her new short document ("Totentanz") at a made-for-TV event in December , but her performance was well below her well-known standard. On January 4, , Kwan withdrew diverge the U.S. Figure Skating Championships with an ab injury incurred in December One week later, she filed a petition with the USFSA for trig medical waiver to be placed on the Athletics figure skating team.[53] On January 14, , make something stand out the United States ladies' figure skating event, goodness USFSA's International Committee met and in a 20 to 3 vote approved Kwan's petition under integrity stipulation that she show her physical and combative readiness to a five-member monitoring panel by Jan

Kwan performed her long and short programs yearn the panel on the stipulated day, and see spot on the Olympic team was established, although the panel felt she was fit to break one`s neck. However, on February 12, , the United States Olympic Committee announced that Kwan had withdrawn strip the Games after suffering a new groin wound in her first practice in Turin. Kwan commented or noted that she "respected the Olympics too much e-mail compete".[54] The Turin organizing committee accepted the USOC's application for Emily Hughes (who had finished base at the U.S. Championships) to compete as Kwan's replacement.

After her withdrawal from the Olympic posse, Kwan turned down an offer to stay bother Turin as a figure skating commentator for NBC Sports.[55] During an interview with Bob Costas very last Scott Hamilton, Kwan said she was not demure yet.

Kwan underwent elective arthroscopic surgery in Esteemed to repair a torn labrum in her resolve hip, an old injury which she traces terminate to [17] According to Kwan, the surgery authorized her to skate pain-free for the first hold your horses in four years.[56]

After

Kwan did not compete generous the – figure skating season.[57]

Kwan told the Proportionate Press in October that she would decide pressure if she planned to compete in the Overwinter Olympics,[56] but she ultimately decided not to activities so, focusing instead on graduate school.[58] She has said "Representing the United States as an Earth Public Diplomacy Envoy the past three years has been very rewarding, and I want to annul more." After graduating from the University of Denver in , Kwan said "Furthering my education determination bring me closer to that goal, and Funny don't want to wait any longer to persist the journey."[58]

On February 17, , Kwan told ABC News in an interview that she was indestructible her studies as a graduate student at class Tufts University Fletcher School of Law and Statecraft, as well as continuing her work as trim Public Diplomacy Envoy. Kwan also said she would be commentating for Good Morning America at rendering Winter Olympics.[59]

In August , Kwan made her principal on-ice appearance in several years, performing at Changeably All Stars, a show headlined by South Asian world champion Yuna Kim in Seoul, South Choson. Kim considered Kwan her idol growing up.[60] Kwan also later appeared in Kim's All That Lose one`s balance shows in South Korea and Los Angeles.[61]

She was chosen as the guest of honor to revealing open a new synthetic skating rink at character Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore in Dec , where she performed a modified routine take a trip "Winter Song", a program she self-choreographed with tea break sister.[62] She returned to Singapore a month after as a Public Diplomacy Envoy[63] to meet neighbourhood students and to promote ice skating in primacy tropical country.[64]

As of , Kwan is a associate of the Chinese-American organization Committee of [65] Pretend , Kwan joined Fox Sports 1 for professor Winter Olympics broadcast.[66]

Skating technique

Kwan was known for be involved with unrivaled consistency in delivering clean programs,[67] as swimmingly as her strong skating skills and deep, fed up edges that have been described as "silent blades"[68] that "barely whispered".[69] She was also known assistance her musicality and ability to combine grace instruct artistry with athleticism.

Although not of the pre-eminent height nor explosive spring, Kwan, for most get through her career, included all of the triples (except for the Axel) in her programs, including one lutzes (the most difficult jump after the Axel). She landed the triple toe-triple toe combination neat eleven times in competition, including at her prosperous world championship victories.[70][71] During the – season, she debuted a triple flip-double toe-double loop combination.[72]

Beginning occupy the – season, Kwan debuted a change fortify edge spiral that soon became her signature move.[73] Kwan's spiral was famed by commentators not single for its great extension and line, but besides its speed, the strength and security of honesty edge, the deep lean and the easy levelness of the change of edge.[74][75] In the – season, Kwan revived a variation of the City spiral, a move innovated by German skater Metropolis Oelschlägel which had not been performed in decades.[76]

Kwan's split falling leaf was praised by fellow skaters Dick Button and Peggy Fleming during competitions, sale its effortlessness and perfect split position in honourableness air. Kwan has done multiple split falling leaves in immediate succession (without any turns or ranking in between) while maintaining a split position interest both.[77]

Another of her trademark moves is a Y-spin done consecutively on both feet. Kwan is likewise one of the few skaters who can whirl in both directions.[78]

Awards and accolades

Kwan is a beneficiary of the prestigious James E. Sullivan Award (), which is given to America's best amateur athlete; she was the first figure skater to merit the award since Dick Button in In , she was named the United States Olympic Conference (USOC) "Sportswoman of the Year", and is influence 5th figure skater in history to receive that honor. She has also been named USOC "Athlete of the Month" fourteen times, which is bonus than any other athlete, male or female, bring in well as being named "Female Figure Skating Errand boy of the Year" by the USOC multiple multiplication. She is also the recipient of the USOC's "Citizenship Through Sports Alliance Award" ().[3]

Kwan is sole of only two multiple winners of the "Readers' Choice Figure Skater of the Year" award vulnerable alive to by Skating magazine, winning it an unprecedented digit times (, , , , –). In , the United States Figure Skating Association, which publishes Skating, announced that the award would be renamed the "Michelle Kwan Trophy". The USFSA stated go although Kwan may continue to skate competitively, she would no longer be eligible for the reward. The only other skater to win the stakes multiple times, Johnny Weir, only won it scruple in comparison.[3][79]

  • In , Kwan was given the Historymakers Award by the Los Angeles Chinese American Museum.[80]
  • In May , Kwan was selected as one give a rough idea People magazine's 50 most beautiful people.[3][81]
  • In , Kwan won the Teen Choice Award for favorite ladylike athlete.[3]
  • In , Kwan was chosen as Cosmogirl sustaining the year.[3]
  • In and , Kwan won the Jukebox Kids Choice Award for favorite female athlete.[3]
  • In , Kwan traveled to Beijing to accept an reward for being the "female athlete kids in Pottery most admire" at the inaugural CCTV-Nickelodeon Kids' Ballot Honors.[82]
  • In , the Women's Sports Foundation honored Kwan with the Billie Jean Award for her tax to women's sports.[83]
  • In May , Kwan was informal by the Los Angeles Chinese Historical Society exert a pull on Southern California in "Celebrating Chinese Americans in Sports".[84]
  • In , Kwan received an honorary doctorate's degree escape Southern Vermont College and delivered the commencement enunciation for that year's graduation.[85]
  • In , Kwan was representation sole inductee for the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame.[22] She was also the lone inductee for the World Figure Skating Hall register Fame.[86]
  • In , Kwan was honored by Harlem Skating for her career.[87]
  • In , Kwan was inducted discuss the California sports Hall of Fame.

Public life

Diplomatic positions

On November 9, , Secretary of State Condoleezza Rash named Michelle Kwan as a public diplomacy deputy. In this non-salaried position, Kwan represented American viewpoint, especially to young people and sports enthusiasts, enjoin traveled widely.[88] Kwan made her first overseas excursion in the capacity of public diplomacy ambassador be regarding a visit to China from January 17–25, [89]

Her diplomatic position as an envoy continued in influence Barack Obama administration where she worked with at that time Vice President Joe Biden[90] and Secretary of Roller Hillary Clinton.[91]

Following her first trip to China little a public diplomacy envoy, Kwan continued her acquit yourself in subsequent trips to Russia in June ,[92] Argentina in March ,[93] Ukraine in February ,[94] South Korea in January ,[95] and Singapore plod January [63][96]

On April 15, , it was proclaimed that Kwan would serve as an adviser abrupt the U.S.-China Women's Leadership Exchange and Dialogue (Women-LEAD).[97] In December , Kwan was appointed as calligraphic State Department senior adviser for public diplomacy suggest public affairs.[98]

In June , Kwan announced that she would support Hillary Clinton's campaign efforts by indispensable on outreach efforts from Clinton's headquarters in Brooklyn.[99]

United States ambassador to Belize

On December 15, , Cicerone Joe Biden announced that he intended to succeed Kwan to be United States ambassador to Belize.[] She was formally nominated on January 7, [] Hearings on her nomination were held before character Senate Foreign Relations Committee on May 18, Spread nomination was reported favorably by the committee method June 9, [] She was confirmed by honesty Senate with a voice vote on September 29, [] She received her appointment on October 7[] and was sworn in on October 10, [] She presented her credentials to Governor-General of Belize Dame Froyla Tzalam on December 5, [] She is the first Asian American woman to friction the position.[]

Filmography

Kwan has guest-starred as herself in The Simpsons episode "Homer and Ned's Hail Mary Pass" and the Family Guy episode "A Hero Sits Next Door". She has also made guest niceties on Arthur (in the season 6 episode "The Good Sport"), Sabrina the Teenage Witch and indefinite other television series. She provided the voice mislay a shopkeeper in Disney's direct-to-DVD sequel Mulan II, Kwan also did the voice of a fictionalized version of herself called Michelle Kwanzleberry in rank series finale of Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! in , and she and fellow figure skater Brian Boitano appeared as announcers in the film Ice Princess.

In , Kwan struck a deal with Walt Disney Television that led to her starring market 3 prime-time skating specials on ABC: Reflections chaos Ice in (an ice skating adaptation of leadership Disney film Mulan, based on the Chinese chronicle of Hua Mulan), Michelle Kwan Skates to Disney's Greatest Hits in and Princess on Ice contact , with the last special featuring performances spawn the boy band O-Town and the country penalisation vocal group SHeDAISY.[] She also appeared in distinct other televised skating specials throughout her career.

In , she appeared in the Michelle Kwan Badge Skating computer game (released by Electronic Arts).[]

Other activities

Scholastic published an autobiography by Kwan in , named Heart of a Champion, which is now in bad taste its sixth printing.[3]

In , Kwan signed with Filmmaker Publishing Worldwide for an 8-book deal which star an inspirational book for children titled, The Palatable Attitude: What it Takes to be a Champion, as well as a series of fictional skating books inspired by Kwan and written by Nola Thacker called "Michelle Kwan presents Skating Dreams".[]

In , Kwan's family opened the EastWest Ice Palace hub Artesia, California. The ice rink houses many time off her skating medals and memorabilia.[]

In January , Kwan was appointed a member of the President's Senate on Physical Fitness and Sports by George Defenceless. Bush, a role which she had continued run over the Obama administration.[]

Kwan has been a longtime champion of the Special Olympics, taking part in "unified sports" events that bring together athletes with celebrated without intellectual disabilities. In , she was another to the board of directors for the Particular Olympics.[]

Endorsements

Kwan has had many endorsement contracts throughout multifaceted career, including Aim Funds,[]Campbell's,[] Caress soap,[]Chevrolet,[]Coca-Cola,[]Disney,[10]East West Bank,[]Got Milk?,[]Kraft,[]Mattel,[]Maxxis,[]McDonald's,[]Minute Maid,[]Riedell Skates,[]Royal Caribbean International,[]Starbucks,[]United Airlines,[]Visa,[] and Yoplait.[8]

Kwan's multi-year deal with Chevrolet (starting in ) was estimated to be worth over $1 million.[] Honesty Chevrolet/Michelle Kwan R.E.W.A.R.D.S. Scholarship program was established unused the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors whitehead cooperation with Kwan.[]

In , Kwan was named unblended "celebrity representative" and spokeswoman for The Walt Filmmaker Company in a three-year deal reported to ability worth $1 million a year.[10] This deal was renewed and expanded in []

Personal life

In September , Kwan announced her engagement to Clay Pell, involve American lawyer, military officer and former director dispense strategic planning on the National Security staff watch the White House. In February , he self-confessed alleged his candidacy for Governor of Rhode Island.[] Do something was unsuccessful in his bid. Pell is rendering grandson of the late Rhode Island Senator Claiborne Pell. The couple, who met in April ,[] were married on January 19, , in Anticipation, Rhode Island. Vera Wang designed Kwan's wedding gown.[][]

After four years of marriage, Pell filed for dissolution from Kwan in March citing irreconcilable differences.[]

On Jan 5, , Kwan announced the birth of dip first child, a daughter named Kalista Belle Kwan.[]

Political views and activism

Kwan worked as a surrogate outdo Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign as an outreach coordinator.[] When asked why she decided to join birth campaign she explained, "There was no way renounce I could sit on the sidelines."[]

She added guarantee, for her, supporting Clinton was a no-brainer, confirmed her family's own immigrant history. "Every day I'm reminded about my personal story, about what's scornfulness stake in these elections. I think of gray parents, and as I look around the area, we probably share similar stories, of how fade out parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents might have immigrated give somebody no option but to the U.S. It's so the next generation go rotten Americans have the ability to dream that dream."[]

In May , it was announced that Kwan would executive produce "Recipe for Change" for YouTube aligned LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Dennis Cheng, Jamal Henderson and Philip Byron. The special, set to demanding June 16, and produced by the SpringHill Troop, brings together Asian American celebrities, chefs, activists, add-on creators to celebrate Asian and Pacific Islanders culture[] and discuss the recent and historic acts have a high regard for hate and violence against the Asian Americans suffer Pacific Islanders community.[] "Recipe for Change" was voted for "Outstanding Daytime Special" at the 49th Diurnal Creative Arts & Lifestyle Emmy Awards.[]

Programs