Michelle Kwan is a famous American figure skater. Entered in single skating. She won the US championship nine times, five times became the world champion, two-time Olympic medalist.
Michelle Kwan is the owner of the largest number of sports awards in American history. The famous skater left the big sport. However, her achievements became an incentive for the development of women's single skating.
Children's workouts
In the suburbs of Los Angeles on July 7, 1980, a third child appeared in the Kwan family. The newborn was named Michelle. A five-year-old baby brother and sister were brought to the rink.
The young skater began to train. When Michelle turned eight, training turned into torment.
The girl got up at three in the morning, rolled back the elements, went to school, and then again hurried to the rink.
To withstand such loads Michelle helped incredible perseverance. Due to lack of time for training, Michelle left school to study on her own.
The young athlete received the first gold at thirteen at the junior world championship.
At the 1995 world championship, the girl got only fourth place. This was a lesson for her. She perfectly honed the technical and artistic side of the performance.
The path to victory
Kwan's signature element is a spiral. The skater, when she performed, changed the sliding ribs. The results of the enormous work done affected a year later.
In 1996, at the world level, Michelle was again the first. Kwan became a triumph in 1998. She skated short and free programs at the national championship to the music of Rachmaninov and Olvin.
All judges unanimously gave her the highest score. By that time, the young skater had barely healed a broken leg.
Michelle took the second step of the podium at the Nagano Winter Olympics. The girl did not lose a single championship from 1998 to 2005 and confidently proved the right to world leadership.
Since 2000, after missing a match in 2002 due to a serious injury, three times Michelle became the first in the world.
The girl was able to ride without pain only after completing treatment in 2006. For a long time Kwan doubted whether to go to Vancouver for the 2009 Olympics. Finally, Michelle decided to continue her studies.
