This seems to be a burning question among sports journalists today. Because Michelle Kwan pulled out of Nationals due to an injury, there is no guarantee she will compete in this year’s Olympics in Turin. Many feel that U.S. skating owes her a place on the team. I tend to agree.

It’s true that her chances for a medal are slim, but she’s Michelle Kwan. When I told my Mom that we had started an Olympics blog, her first question was “Is Michelle Kwan competing this year?”

My favorite quote from an article on the subject pretty much sums up Kwan’s popularity with the people and with the media:

“And how would NBC, which spends so many millions on Olympics coverage, feel about a Kwan-less team? The network is already using Kwan in its advertising for the Turin Games. If NBC executives have to fly her there in a private jet and provide an around-the-clock medical staff to ensure her health, they’d probably do so.”