Citing a groin injury, Michelle Kwan has decided not to skate in next week’s U.S. Figure Skating Championship. Kwan will, however, petition the U.S. Figure Skating International Committee for one of three ladies spots on the 2006 U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team.
Kwan was injured during practice on Dec. 17 and her doctor has recommended limiting skating since then. She is expected to resume her normal training schedule on Friday, Jan. 13.
Michelle Kwan should not be given a spot on the US team because it would be unfair to the other Olympic hopefuls who are more physically fit, younger and have a greater chance of winning.
If the Olympic Committee would give her another chance, it would be considered as “favoritism” on their part.
Kwan has had her chances & should retire from the sport.
[...] person who wins third may be moot, as far as a place on the Olympic team is concerned, if Michelle Kwan wins her bid for the third spot. [...]
Michelle Kwan has been one of the biggest faces for women’s iceskating for the last decade. She is one of the best and most commonly known skaters in the world. I would support sending her in place of the third place winner. She has been an inspiration to many and I feel she deserves this last chance for gold. As for the younger olympic hopefuls, they still have many more years left to compete. They are less experienced and are more likely to choke.
Michelle Kwan is an amazing skater who is so well respected and loved. She made the right decision to withdraw when she did. She made a very unselfish move. I am very proud of her. While she may never get that gold medal to complete her collection, in my mind, she already has it!
I just want to say that I have followed Michelle’s skating career since day one and have loved seeing her skate every single time. I am glad she was given a chance in Torino and very sorry to see that she had to withdraw, but I am extremely proud of her, both as a skater and as a person. She did the right thing.