I feel so terrible for Michelle Kwan.

[Honu]

...because some people really dislike Michelle Kwan...

I think you are reading too much into the posts. There is a huge difference between criticizing/questioning the situation and those involved and "hating" those involved.

 

[Doctor P]

I really felt my post was, on the whole, quite complimentary of Ms. Kwan.

 

[Valentine]

I feel bad for her also... there is nothing as disappointing as having to give up something you love due to situations beyond your control. She has always handled herself with maturity beyond her years... and has entertained and inspired so many people. I wish her only the best... and applaud her for giving it her best... and having the courage to face the reality of her injuries. It's too bad.. I would have really enjoyed watching her skate.. and win! That would have been a crowning moment...

Kathy

 

[CarolA]

Emily is VERY lucky..l daresay LOTS of Olympic competitors would have waited a few days to make this decision.

I think the "Emily didn't get to do the opening" is a lot of bull....If it weren't for Michelle and Sasha's showing at Worlds last year, we would only have One or Two spots. (Poor Jenny Kirk really had a bad day and we had to have GOOD outings from our other two... SO Emily owes that third spot to Michelle in the first place.

 

[Nancy]

I feel bad for her also... there is nothing as disappointing as having to give up something you love due to situations beyond your control. She has always handled herself with maturity beyond her years... and has entertained and inspired so many people. I wish her only the best... and applaud her for giving it her best... and having the courage to face the reality of her injuries. It's too bad.. I would have really enjoyed watching her skate.. and win! That would have been a crowning moment...

Kathy

 

[Planogirl]

I think that Michelle did the right thing when she pulled out and I'm glad that she did it so early. Now I'll be rooting for Emily!

 

[disykat]

I agree Michelle Kwan is a class act and handled it well. If anyone knows about being an alternate, it's Michelle Kwan. People have very short memories.

 

[Rajah]

Wow, somehow I missed this yesterday. While I'm sorry to see Michelle drop, I'm very proud of her for making such a decision early enough to let the alternate get psyched and into the program.

 

[Deb in IA]

I really felt my post was, on the whole, quite complimentary of Ms. Kwan.

NOT (in your words).

I posted this on the other thread:

Michelle came onto the US figure skating scene right in the midst of the Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan mess, and, for the next 12 years, gave the sport some much needed class, dignity and grace, not to mention breathtaking moments of sheer elegance and artistry. Along the way, she collected an unprecedented 9 US Nationals, 5 Worlds, and a boat-load of perfect 6's. As Peggy Fleming said, we will not see anything like her again.

Of course, her heartbreak is nothing compared to oh, say children who are staving and dying all over the world. But it is the end of a dream, the sad realization that she will now never get the one elusive award that has eluded her all these years, through all the thousands of hours of practice, all the training, conditioning, pain, and tears. I'm sure skating will always afford her a very comfortable life. But it will never give her that one special title, "Olympic Gold Medalist".

 

[Laura]

While I sympathize with Michelle and think it's too bad she wasn't able to compete, I honestly don't feel all that sorry for her. Just a little sorry. There have been numerous awesome singles skaters in who have won at worlds, but never got the coveted Olympic gold: Kurt Browning, Todd Eldredge, Brian Orser, Elvis Stojko, Debi Thomas, Midori Ito--I'm sure there are plenty more in the more distant past, but those are just off the top of my head.

In my opinion, honestly, if you can't bring it at the Olympics, you don't deserve the medal. Everybody who competes cranks it up for this event, and the favorites have to do it too. In 2002 Michelle should have beaten the pants off everybody, but it was up to her, and she didn't skate her best.

So, I'm sorry that she hasn't gotten the prize she wanted, but I don't think she was up to the task this year, no matter how healthy her body was. Of course, I would have been delighted if she proved me wrong. But she's had two really good chances to get Olympic gold, and she should leave it at that. She's bowing out extremely gracefully and wisely, and I definitely give her points for that. I'm sure figure skating hasn't seen the last of her.

 

[Keggy]

I am also very upset for Michelle. I am a huge fan of hers.

I heard on the Olympic commentary over the weekend that the only reason the US had 3 spots to send three skaters to the Olympics was because of Kwan's placing in the world championships? I had never heard this before and thought it was very interesting. Otherwise the US would have only been able to send 2 skaters.

Kelly

 

[chyam]

I'm sure this is not the way she wanted to "go out", but I think she handled the entire situation with grace and class.

I totally agree with you......this woman has never shown anything but grace and class in every situation. The only thing I think is at the time when she wasn't able to compete for the spot on the team(because of injury) I think she shouldn't have been able to petition to get on the team, it should have gone directly to Emily. But my heart goes out to her for having to leave this way. She conducted herself with class, it has a lot to say about her upbringing. She will have luck in anything that she does with her atittude.

 

[EltonJohn]

Actually, I don't feel sorry for Kwan at all. Hughes should have been on the team in the first place, and I'm glad that it has worked out this way. Hugghes deserves the spot.

Kwan's winning the Gold was just not meant to be, but she will still be remembered as one of the greatest skaters of her generation.

 

[Lezah]

I am proud of her for dealing with a difficult situation in the best way possible. She felt that she was healthy enough to skate, found that she was not, and has withdrawn in enough time for Emily Hughes to get to Torino and get acclimatized prior to competition. She is the reason that there are 3 spots for USA skaters at the Olympics this time around so we have to remember that too! But my heart goes out to her because I know that she did want that elusive Olympic Gold medal. That title means so much. The titles that she has won can't be taken away from her though so she just has to hold on to that. JMHO anyway!

 

[RoyalCanadian]

I have burned into my brain the image of Michelle Kwan on the medals podium at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games glaring at Sarah Hughes and Irina Slutskaya. It is an image I can never forget and one that revealed just who had the poise, the grace and the winning attitude.

I, for one, do not think she has brought grace and poise to an already fractured and controversy ridden sport.

For those who believe she is one of the greatest skaters of her generation - I applaud you for thinking that. However, it needs to be remembered that the Olympic gold medal is the accepted marker of the person who is the greatest skater of their generation. Michelle Kwan will always be, at best, a silver medal winner. 2nd place isn't 1st.