And, a class act.
Posted on 02/12/2006 12:35:38 AM PST by blondee123
It was just announced (2:30 a.m. central time) on NBC TV that Michelle Kwan has officially withdrawn from olympic competition. Said that the U.S. team has filed a replacement form with the Olympic committee.
I feel bad for her, but it's better to do that earlier, so that Emily Hughes can prepare better..
Why did she drop out?
Kwan drops out of Torino Olympics
Posted: Feb.12, 2006, 2:24 am CST; Updated: Feb.12, 2006, 2:32 am CST
TORINO, Italy (AP) -- Michelle Kwan dropped out of the Torino Games on Sunday morning because of a groin injury, bringing her quest for that elusive Olympic gold to its most disappointing end yet.
Kwan cut short her first practice at the games Saturday after aggravating the groin injury. Though she said she didn't want to drop out, the injury worsened as the day went on. After being evaluated early Sunday by Dr. Jim Moeller, she decided to withdraw.
"Taking myself off the team is the most difficult decision I've ever had to make,'' Kwan said in a release, "but it's the right decision. This injury prevents me from skating my best, and I've said all along that if I couldn't skate to the level that I expected from myself I'd withdraw from the team.
"The Olympics is the greatest sporting event in the world and what's most important is that the United States fields the strongest team possible. As much as I'd love to represent the United States in Torino, I would never stand in the way of that.''
The U.S. Olympic Committee has asked to replace Kwan with Emily Hughes, the third-place finisher at last month's national championships. A response was expected later this week, and Hughes was to travel to Torino on Sunday.
Kwan missed last month's U.S. nationals with a groin injury, and needed a medical bye onto the Torino team. Moeller said Sunday he does not believe the current injury is related to the groin problem Kwan had during the national championships.
This was to be the last chance at the elusive Olympic gold for Kwan, the face of figure skating for the last decade. Though she won five world championships and nine U.S. titles, she always came up short at the Olympics, winning a silver medal in 1998 and a bronze in 2002.
Kwan was expected to appear at a news conference later Sunday morning in Torino.
And, a class act.
Kudos to Michelle.
I could just cry.
Well, maybe she'll accept the fact that pain won't go away in this lifetime...and then she can join the Olympic Hockey Team.
cuz if she lost again, her market value for pay events would nose dive.
Dittos to that!
I kinda had a feeling this was going to happen after her tumble earlier in the day. So sad. What a brave and un-selfish young lady.
I guess she'll never win a gold.
she's already got the gold , a heart of gold
Thanks for the link report.
I don't think so. If she were in it for the money, she would have "gone pro" a long long time ago. Not winning a gold is irrelevant for her in a monetary way. She is a bigger draw than other gold medalists Hughes, Lipinski or Hamill.
Lester Holt NBC-TV just announced a live press conference at 5:30 a.m. eastern time, I am assuming it is with Michelle, or possibly a spokesperson for U.S. figure skating team.
The right thing to do in this situation, she can't skate with this injury.
Peter Forsberg faces the same decision with a similar injury. Flyers fans are hoping he makes the right choice and withdraws from the Swedish hockey team, rather than aggravating his injury.
She's speaking on MSNBC right now.
I really hoped she would be well enough to compete, but she is showing class by dropping out and allowing another to take her place. If she is not at 100% her performance would not be up to her usual level. She’s a great skater.
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