Michelle Kwan

Michelle Kwan
Kwan in 2022
United States Ambassador to Belize
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 5, 2022
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byLeyla Moses-Ones (chargé d'affaires)
Personal details
Born (1980-07-07) July 7, 1980 (age 44)
Torrance, California, U.S.
Height5 ft 2 in (157 cm)
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2013; div. 2017)​
Children1
Residence(s)California, U.S.
Figure skating career
Country United States
Skating clubLos Angeles FSC
Retired2006
Medal record
Ladies' singles figure skating
Representing the  United States
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 0 1 1
World Championships 5 3 1
Grand Prix Final 1 4 0
World Junior Championships 1 0 0
Total 7 8 2
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1998 Nagano Ladies' singles
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Salt Lake City Ladies' singles
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1996 Edmonton Ladies' singles
Gold medal – first place 1998 Minneapolis Ladies' singles
Gold medal – first place 2000 Nice Ladies' singles
Gold medal – first place 2001 Vancouver Ladies' singles
Gold medal – first place 2003 Washington, D.C. Ladies' singles
Silver medal – second place 1997 Lausanne Ladies' singles
Silver medal – second place 1999 Helsinki Ladies' singles
Silver medal – second place 2002 Nagano Ladies' singles
Bronze medal – third place 2004 Dortmund Ladies' singles
Grand Prix Final
Gold medal – first place 1995–1996 Paris Ladies' singles
Silver medal – second place 1996–1997 Hamilton Ladies' singles
Silver medal – second place 1999–2000 Lyon Ladies' singles
Silver medal – second place 2000–2001 Tokyo Ladies' singles
Silver medal – second place 2001–2002 Kitchener Ladies' singles
Goodwill Games
Gold medal – first place 1998 New York City Ladies' singles
Silver medal – second place 1994 Saint Petersburg Ladies' singles
Silver medal – second place 2001 Brisbane Ladies' singles
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 1994 Colorado Springs Ladies' singles
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Michelle Kwan
Traditional Chinese關穎珊[1]
Simplified Chinese关颖珊
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinGuān Yǐngshān
Wade–GilesKuan1 Ying3 Shan1
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingGwaan1 Wing6 Saan1

Michelle Wingshan Kwan (born July 7, 1980) is a retired American competitive figure skater and diplomat serving as United States Ambassador to Belize. In figure skating Kwan is a two-time Olympic medalist (silver in 1998, bronze in 2002), a five-time world champion (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003) and a nine-time U.S. champion (1996, 1998–2005). She is tied with Maribel Vinson for the all-time National Championship record.

She competed at the senior level for over a decade and is the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history.[2] Known for her consistency and expressive artistry on ice, she is widely considered one of the greatest figure skaters of all time.[3]

For well over a decade, Kwan maintained her status not only as America's most popular figure skater but as one of America's most popular female athletes.[4] Kwan landed numerous major endorsement deals, starred in multiple TV specials and was the subject of extensive media coverage.[5] From 1997 to 2005, she was the U.S. Figure Skating Association's top-paid skater in appearance fees and prize money,[6] as well as one of the highest paid Winter Olympic athletes in endorsements.[7][8] Kwan was also the highest-paid skater on the Champions on Ice tours.[9]

Following her figure skating career, Kwan became active in politics, particularly with the Democratic Party. In January 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Kwan to be U.S. Ambassador to Belize. She was confirmed by the Senate on September 29, 2022, took the oath of office on October 22, and presented her credentials on December 5.

  1. ^ 關穎珊夫妻關係如雙人滑 幽默牧師逗翻全場(圖) (in Chinese). Sina Corp. January 20, 2013. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  2. ^ Athlete bio at usfigureskating.org Archived April 24, 2005, at the Wayback Machine, accessed September 8, 2006.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference CSM was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference HarrisInt was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Stephie Lu was her teacher. Will O.C.'s Ashley Wagner be skating's next rock star? Archived March 8, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, accessed May 21, 2014.
    - How Tonya, Nancy helped their sport Archived April 4, 2023, at the Wayback Machine, accessed May 20, 2014.
    - Vargas, Jose Antonio (February 13, 2006). "The Michelle Kwan Myth, Worth its Weight in Gold". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 21, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference TheBottomLine was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference WhoWillWin was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Going for Endorsement Gold Archived April 4, 2023, at the Wayback Machine, Forbes, accessed May 19, 2014.
    - Kwan Detractors need to Grow Up, Los Angeles Times, accessed May 19, 2014.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Goodasgold was invoked but never defined (see the help page).