Michelle Kwan Biography | Figure Skater

Michelle Wing Kwan

Born: July 7, 1980
Place of Birth: Torrance, California

Michelle Kwan competed for the US Figure Skating Championship when she was only 13 years old.
Michelle is the youngest of three children born to Estella and Danny Kwan.
When only five years old, she was inspired to learn to skate after watching her brother, Ronald, playing ice hockey.
With the support of their parents, Michelle Kwan and her sister, Karen, began taking figure skating lessons.
Progressing well over the next few years, she had her mind and heart set on performing in the Olympics.
The family moved to Lake Arrowhead, California, so that, at age 11, she could have Frank Carroll as a coach.
In 1992, she did not do well in her first national junior championship, finishing ninth overall.
At this point, Kwan went behind the back of her coach and applied for and passed skating tests to be classified as a senior.
Over the next few years, Michelle Kwan continued to do well at her skating efforts.
Because of the Tonya Harding affair, she was selected to replace Harding on the 1994 Olympics team but didn't compete.
She did, however, skate in the World Championship that year finishing eighth; she was 14 at the time.
Kwan won her first US national title and World Championship in 1996.
Michelle Kwan has since won the US nationals on eight occasions and has been World Champion five times.

For detailed research and more information, check out any of the following: Michael's Michelle Kwan Site Michelle Kwan Fanatics Michelle Kwan's Biography ESPN Classsic US Olympic Team US Figure Skating

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