Kwan pulls out of olympics

[Alicnwondrln]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11308215/site/newsweek/
Homeward Bound
Michelle Kwan is sports’ ultimate class act. And when she withdrew from the U.S. Olympic team Sunday, there were plenty of tears to go around.

web Exclusive
By Mark Starr
Newsweek
Updated: 10:40 a.m. ET Feb. 12, 2006
Feb. 12, 2006 - It may have ended with a whimper and not a bang. But as Michelle Kwan fought back the inevitable tears that followed her decision to withdraw from the Torino Olympics, they were tears of sadness, but not of self-pity. Kwan had made it clear earlier that she understood that this was, after all, just sport and that the problems of one little person don’t amount to a hill of beans when compared to what people endure in this world.

Story continues below ↓
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
advertisement

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Still, in less than 24 hours, her Olympic dream, her third Olympic venture, had been turned topsy-turvy. After celebrating Opening Ceremonies on Friday night, she took the ice Saturday morning for her first practice session feeling stiff and uncomfortable. When she came out of her second jump attempt, a triple flip, she said, “I knew I had done something.” Gamely, she tried another jump, but fell—and, with it, sensed something even bigger crashing. Her only hope was that with some therapy, the stiffness would go away. But by evening, it had worsened and she was in considerable pain, unable even to sleep. Kwan called the team doctor who visited her in the Olympic village at 2:15 a.m. and quickly diagnosed a groin injury that pretty much doomed her chances to compete.

Kwan says withdrawing was one of the toughest decision she ever had to make, but she didn’t hesitate. “I know it’s the right one,” she said. “I respect the Olympics too much to compete if I don’t feel I can be at my best.” Things then happened in rapid succession. A call was placed to the home of Emily Hughes, alerting the Olympic alternate that her presence would be required in Torino. By 7:30 a.m. the U.S. team had made a formal application for a replacement for Kwan and it is no small measure of the international respect for her that, by 11 a.m., a famously slow bureaucracy had already approved the substitution.

Despite the disappointment for Kwan, truly for everyone who loves skating, the withdrawal was a vindication of the original decision—after Kwan was injured and unable to compete at the national championships—to grant her a medical waiver and place her on the team. She more than honored her public commitment to relinquish the spot if she wasn’t 100 percent and able to deliver her best performance. She did so with such rapidity that Hughes, who was still in training back home on Long Island for next month’s world championships in Calgary, will be able to arrive here in Italy well before the competition begins on Feb. 21.

Hughes, 17, the younger sister of Sarah Hughes, the 2002 Olympic champion, won the bronze medal at the 2006 nationals. She is a strong, energetic skater with a radiant personality, but is, at best, a distant long shot to duplicate her sister’s Olympic upset. Sasha Cohen, the reigning American champion, remains the country’s best hope to extend America’s streak of women’s figure skating golds to three in a row. Cohen said she was “shocked” by Kwan’s decision, but didn’t feel it would affect her in any fashion. That may be wishful thinking. Cohen may be the U.S. champ, but Kwan is figure skating’s reigning queen. As such, she took the lion’s share of the at-tention that will now gravitate to the 21-year-old Californian. Cohen has appeared susceptible to pressure in the past and the pressure on her has just been ratcheted up.

Kwan said she didn’t want to be a distraction from the competition in Torino and would head home to Los Angeles to mend. Her competitive career is likely over—and over without the crowning achievement of an Olympic gold medal. “It’s not all about the gold,” she said gamely. “It’s about sport. I have no regrets. I tried my best and if I didn’t win the gold, it’s OK. I had a great career.” There’s no doubt about that. And there should be no doubt that, after nine U.S. championships five world titles and two Olympic medals, her legacy as one of the greatest skaters ever to grace the ice is intact.

But truthfully, that is the least of it. Seldom has an athlete’s sorrow been felt as acutely by those who have covered her career, indeed by pretty much everyone who has shared it up close or from afar. U.S. Olympic Committee chairman Peter Ueberroth made a remarkable introduction before Kwan took the stage to share her painful decision. “Michelle Kwan means more to the United States Olympic Committee than maybe any athlete that has ever performed [for it],” he said.

That covers a lot of terrain, a lot of legendary athletes. But Kwan is truly special, beloved because she has proved time and again to be sport’s ultimate class act. And that is a legacy that trumps such transitory matters as the color of the Olympic medals she has won

 

[shellybaxter]

Only happened once before when Michelle was kicked for Nancy Karrigan (don't know if I spelled that right).

Simply not true. I happened before for Todd Eldredge and Nicole Bobek, plus a few others, maybe Chris Bowman. If you have followed skating you will realize that Michelle Kwan deserved the chance to go. I'm glad the USFSA gave her that chance.

 

[stevenpensacola]

That is sad for her. But I think Emily Hughes should have been there from the start.

I agree. It's a shame Hughes had to miss out on the opening ceremony festivities.

 

[declansdad]

Um, except that she did win the right to be there. What makes you say she didn't?

How did she win the right to be there? She didn't win the US Nationals and was selected by th US Olympic Committee. The fact that her placing at lst years Worlds gave the US 3 spot didn't win her anything.

She has always been a wonderful skater and has always shown dignity. I certainly have no problem with her but groin injuries do not heal overnight. As a high level athlete she, her coach and her trainers would have known that.

 

[shellybaxter]

How did she win the right to be there? She didn't win the US Nationals and was selected by th US Olympic Committee. The fact that her placing at lst years Worlds gave the US 3 spot didn't win her anything.

The only skater that won US Nationals was Sasha Cohen. Kimmie Miesner was selected to the team and Emily Hughs was selected as an alternate. Does that mean that Kimmie Miesner and Emily Hughes didn't earn their spots either? These girls all (including Michelle) followed the rules of their sport to get their positions.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Based on that article it does sound like she reinjured herself by pushing too much too soon. .

I think she was entitled to go per the rules--but glad she did what she said she would do and pull out if she needed to. Although--based on how they said she felt--I think the choice was made for her .

 

[Honu]

Um, except that she did win the right to be there. What makes you say she didn't?

She didn't even compete at nationals and was a given an extenuation due to her injury that allowed her to go.

I feel terrible for her, but she was injured and she and USFSA should used their heads and not their hearts when making the decision for her to compete in Torino.

 

[declansdad]

The only skater that won US Nationals was Sasha Cohen. Kimmie Miesner was selected to the team and Emily Hughs was selected as an alternate. Does that mean that Kimmie Miesner and Emily Hughes didn't earn their spots either? These girls all (including Michelle) followed the rules of their sport to get their positions.

Exactly, the only winner was Sasha Cohen. At least the other two competed at the Nationals. I certainly don't begrudge any athlete who plays be the rules but if you are not healthy, don't; don't look for the shortcut.

 

[Ziva]

Michelle's a 5 time WORLD champion & 9 time NATIONAL champion, wow, just wow.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I really don't think anybody on the DIS is a "Michelle Hater."

I am truly sorry to hear that she had pulled out - just as I was sorry that she was injured at Nationals and couldn't compete for a spot on the team. I even agree that if she was healthy during the National Competition, she would have earned her spot on the team. Sadly that was not the case.

I also agree that she was not ready to compete at Nationals, not ready to compete at the Olympics, and did a huge disservice to the girl who lost her spot by petitioning to be put on the team when she has pretty much been unable to skate competitively for months.

I wish her well and hopefully the Hughes girl can pack and get over her jet lag really quick.

 

[CarolA]

It's too bad she insisted on competing in the first place, and looked for an exception for herself in order to get to the Olympics. It's too bad that Emily will always be known as the alternate and missed her chance to walk into the stadium with the other athletes because of Michelle's blindsided stubbornness. I've lost a lot of respect for Michelle, as you can tell. She should never have gone to begin with.

It's too bad Michelle skated to FOURTH place last year at the Worlds or Emily would be sitting at HOME!!!! That is the ONLY way we got three places.

And this "chance to walk in the stadum " is just a line. Where was Ms. Cohen your National Champion on opening day? (Hint, think WARM) Where was the Women's Free Style team (Hint think HIGH) LOTS and LOTS of athletes choose not to walk in the opening and there is NO assurance Emily would have.

I'll be honest, I wasn't sure until I watched Nationals. Emily and the others did NOTHING to convince me that they were going to set the world on fire. Michelle at 70% is better then some of these others at 100%

And by the way, Emily showed up at a major competetion this fall having just recovered from a serious illness and out of shape. By attending, she deined some other skater the chance to go..... So .......

 

[CarolA]

I'm not going to get into the should Michelle have gone in the first place debate. It is rare that the first three at nationals don't make up the whole olympic team. Only happened once before when Michelle was kicked for Nancy Karrigan (don't know if I spelled that right).

.

Todd Eldrige was named to the US team for the OLYs on the same basis. (Mark Mitchell was the person "bumped") There have also been "bumps" for Worlds using the same criteria.

 

[C.Ann]

So now all the Michelle-haters (there appear to be many here on the DIS) are happy..

----------------------

Why do you insist on using this term? You must harbor hatred very loosely in your own life to leap to the conclusion that anyone here actually "hates" Michelle simply because they don't agree with the manner in which she got to the Olympics.. That attitude is scary!

 

[salmoneous]

She didn't even compete at nationals

You seem to be under the impression that the rules state whoever comes in 1-2-3 at Nations is selected for the team. That isn't the case. Michelle won her way onto the team by her performances before and after Nationals - just as is specified in the rules.

Where (and why) you guys are coming up with the breaking the rules thing is beyond me. No rule breaking. No shortcuts.

 

[declansdad]

It's too bad Michelle skated to FOURTH place last year at the Worlds or Emily would be sitting at HOME!!!! That is the ONLY way we got three places.

but that fourth place didn't mean that she would automaticaly get a spot on the Olympic Team.

You seem to be under the impression that the rules state whoever comes in 1-2-3 at Nations is selected for the team. That isn't the case. Michelle won her way onto the team by her performances before and after Nationals - just as is specified in the rules.

Where (and why) you guys are coming up with the breaking the rules thing is beyond me. No rule breaking. No shortcuts.

An earlier poster stated that only the winner wins a spot on the team. The other members are selected. So if she wasn't first at Nationals that means she was selected. Last time I checked selected and win had different meanings.

Also I don't think anyone here has said she broke the rules only that if she wasn't healthy she shouldn't have petitioned for the 3rd spot.

 

[Honu]

Michelle won her way onto the team by her performances before and after Nationals - just as is specified in the rules.

Before? From what I've read she missed ALL of the 2005 Grand Prix competitions leading up to Nationals do to a hip injury.

Michelle petitioned to go and it was granted. USFSA should not have sent her, but she has great advertising pull and money talks. I wish her well, but she should have let someone else have their moment to shine to begin with.

 

[hubby_of_newtodisney]

Not a Michelle hater here...think that she was great...but I beleive that she is on her way home while Emily waits to fly to Torino.

A true team player should stay to route the team on!

 

[Toby'sFriend]

You seem to be under the impression that the rules state whoever comes in 1-2-3 at Nations is selected for the team

oh for goodness sake we have been over this countless time on the boards. Nobody is saying Kwan broke the rules to get onto the Olympic team or that she didn't follow procedures. Just that it is A FACT that the placings at the Nationals, as a general rule, dictate who gets to skate in the Olympics. Yes there have been exceptions and yes Kwan followed a route that others have used before.

However she was not well enough to skate at Nationals, many people then that there was little chance she would be healthy enough by the Olympics to make a good showing. Believe me, there was a reason they closed her "tryout" to all Media except those who would sign a form agreeing only to report what the Skating Officials deemed as "acceptable information." She was and is hurt -- she cannot skate right now.

Really she was put on the team for one reason and that is money. Women's Skating is the Headline event of the Winter Olympics and Michelle Kwan is a name that brings in viewership -- which is good for the Olympics, good for TV, and good for the US Figure Skating Assoc.

That's all.

 

[wvrevy]

This debate is yet another reason why most people don't really consider Figure Skating to be a sport at all. Anything that relies that much on someone "judging" who the winner is - and, thereby, admitting personal prejudices into the equation - is kind of hard to take seriously. The "favorites" going in will just about always score higher, regardless of what the competition may do.

Michelle wanted the one win that had alluded her throughout her career, and skating being the farce that it is, she'd likely have gotten it if she could have competed. I certainly can't blame her for trying, and I think it's a classy move on her part to go ahead and pull out now rather than waiting until the last minute so that the other girl couldn't take her place.

But skating will always be a joke, so long as things like Salt Lake's pairs competition are possible (and no, the "new" scoring system won't solve the problem).

 

[hubby_of_newtodisney]

Is it too soon for that joke? I'm glad that they were hunting for quail and not a bigger bird or that fella might have been seriously injured or killed.

My theory is that he (the victim) said something negative about the prez...let that be a warning to the rest of YOU!

But seriously, the shooting occured yesterday...no one knew until today...were they trying to get the story straight?