Too long has she tried to win it and never done it.
Twice is too long? Irina Slutskaya - who won the Gold Medal at the last Olympics, has been competing longer than Kwan, and Salt Lake City was her 3rd Olympics. She was written off by many after illnesses and lousy seasons.
Ok, let's say a kid does very well in high school his first three years and then decides he doesn't want to do any work or gets sick during his senior year. Should we ignore the top three ranked students and place him above them because he's been a great student up until now? I think not.
I really don't see how this is an apt comparison. The USFSA has long-held procedures in place for exactly this type of situation - a qualified skater who has been injured and cannot compete at Nationals.
Michelle followed the procedure. She will be monitored by USFSA officials and have to prove to them she is healthy enough to go.
Kimmie Meissner and Emily Hughes are not "top ranked". Michelle's scores from the 2005 Worlds were higher than either of their scores at Nationals. Meissner and Hughes have no chance at making the podium at the Olympics, and honestly, very little shot at making the top ten. Hughes in particular has a plodding style that is not going to please international judges at all.
In figure skating, the skaters who are most likely to place well at the Olympics are the ones put on the team. Yes, it stinks (for Emily Hughes), but it happened.
I understand that you can petition to be on the olympic team due to injury, but are there any rules about the injury itself?
Yes, it does matter. Nicole Bobek petitioned to be placed on the World team and was turned down, in part because her injury was sustained while she was skating in a show tour, not in competition or training for competition.
I don't think having the flu would be a valid reason to skip a competition, unless the skater were hospitalized or something extreme.
And to answer all the "brave Sasha and Kimmie, skating through the flu" comments; "battling a cold/the flu" is the standard excuse for any skater who doesn't perform up to snuff. Meissner appears to be young and innocent, so she probably did really have a cold. But Sasha is known for choking at the last minute - I have no doubt that her "flu" was a prepacked excuse in case she did it again.
I feel that some people in sports these days feel like their name should get them exactly what they want..bad example for my impressionable young children, IMHO.
Michelle Kwan is a wonderful example for children. I can only assume you know nothing about her career up to this point, for you to make that statement.
And she did follow the rules. The USFSA is NOT making an exception just for her. ANY eligible skater with an injury could similarly petition. Other skaters in the past have been placed on the Oly team in the exact same way.
Kwan is NOT breaking any rules of any kind.
Let's just agree to disagree. I have friends who agree with me on some issues and some who disapgee on some issues...Such is life for all of us. 
Well put..short and sweet!
