Michelle Wingshan Kwan [2] born July 7, is a retired American figure skater. She is a two-time Olympic medalist silver in , bronze in , a five-time World champion , , , , and a nine-time U. She is tied with Maribel Vinson for the all-time National Championship record. She competed at the senior level for over a decade and is the most decorated figure skater in U. For well over a decade, Kwan maintained her status not only as America's most popular figure skater but as one of America's most popular female athletes.
Figure Skating Association 's top-paid skater in appearance fees and prize money, [7] as well as one of the highest paid Winter Olympic athletes in endorsements. Her father was a native of Canton and emigrated from Hong Kong to California in Kwan's interest in figure skating began at the age of five when she followed her two older siblings ice hockey player Ron and figure skater Karen onto the ice. They practiced three to four hours a day, waking up at am and arriving at the rink at am to skate before school, and then going back to the rink right after school to skate again.
Paying for their increased skating-rink time led to financial hardship for Kwan's working-class family. When Kwan was ten years old, her family could no longer afford a coach, but they were offered financial assistance by a fellow member of the Los Angeles Figure Skating Club [14] that allowed them to train at the Ice Castle International Training Center in Lake Arrowhead, California.
Kwan attended Soleado Elementary School in Palos Verdes, California , but left public school to be homeschooled in , when she was in the 8th grade. In the fall of , she transferred to the University of Denver.
Kwan won five World Championships , , , , , tying her with Carol Heiss — for the most world titles by an American. Kwan's nine world medals overall is the all-time record for an American skater in any discipline. The only ladies' singles skater with more world titles or medals is Sonia Henie of Norway. Kwan won nine U. Championships , — , tying the record for most wins set by Maribel Vinson-Owen —, — She holds the record for the most consecutive U.
