Peter Ueberroth,
“The United States Olympic Committee announces today that five-time world
champion and nine-time
“Michelle Kwan means more to the United States Olympic Committee than maybe
any athlete that’s ever performed for the United States Olympic Committee. She
a leader, she’s been gracious, she’s somebody to cherish forever. She’s a
real loss to all of the United States Olympic Committee, to the
Ron Hershberger, President,
“Michelle Kwan is truly a great champion. She has been and still is a great
champion. I think I can say she is widely admired and, in fact, adored by figure
skating fans everywhere. She has been a true champion in every sense of the
word. She sustained this new injury during the first day of practice. She had
followed the process carefully and we had followed the process carefully of the
criteria for the selection to the Olympic Team. She had been examined by her own
physician after sustaining an injury earlier in the year and was certified to be
healthy. She then submitted her petition to be nominated to the Olympic Team.
The Figure Skating Association exercised its option to have her evaluated again
by a physician selected by us. That physician did examine her and certified that
she was healthy. She then continued to train. She was monitored by a five-person
monitoring committee that we selected, who saw her run through her short program
and her long program. Clearly she was ready to compete. Then she was seen again
by monitors on the second of February, again confirming her readiness, and then
finally by her own doctor, who also is a U.S. Figure Skating physician, on the
seventh of February, just before coming to these Games, again, ready to compete.
It’s really regrettable that on the first day of practice that she sustained a
new injury and is forced to withdraw. She is a true champion and she will gut
through this. We are delighted that Emily Hughes has continued to train and be
ready and she will be sometime later this week.”
David Raith, Executive Director,
“(Michelle Kwan) is a great champion and has been one of the faces of U.S.
Figure Skating. I was the one who called last night to the Hughes family at 2:45
a.m. local time. They were at dinner – I heard the clatter of forks and knives
in the background. I spoke with John Hughes first, then I spoke to Emily Hughes,
who expressed her wishes for a recovery for Michelle, and also is very, very
excited that she will become a member of the U.S. Olympic Team, pending the
approval that was received this morning. She’s very excited. They are
evaluating their options on when to come here and we will be in touch with them
later today regarding those logistics.”
Dr. Jim Moeller, M.D. (Troy,Mich.)
Opening Statement:
Shortly before 2:00 this morning, I was contacted by our Medical Director to
report to our training room in the Village to perform an assessment on Michelle.
She met us there about 2:15. Along with the medical director, together we
obtained a medical history regarding her injury which occurred on Saturday at
practice, an injury such that she was unable to continue her practice and cut it
short. We then proceeded to perform a physical examination of both hips,
assessing her amount of discomfort, motion and strength. We made the assessment
of an acute groin strain or adductor strain, in which this type of injury at her
sport, at her level, we felt that to continue to train and compete would put her
at risk for further injury. So it was our recommendation that she consider
withdrawing at that point. In total it took roughly 15 minutes to obtain the
information and make the assessment. I do want to be clear on one point: this
type of injury is not career-threatening. We do expect her to make a full
recovery with time and proper rehabilitation.
Michelle Kwan,
Opening thoughts:
"I wish I was here in better circumstances. When I first put in the
petition, I believed I would be 100 percent. I don't believe I can be at 100
percent and I respect the Olympics too much. I don't feel that I can compete at
my best."
Step by step on what has happened:
"Yesterday morning I woke up really stiff. Twenty minutes into practice, I
still felt really stiff and not at ease on the ice. I tried to skate it off, but
I ended up getting off the ice. At the time, I didn't feel like I would do
something immediately. I iced my groin area. About 11 p.m., 12 o'clock, I still
didn't feel right. I made two phone calls. I talked to the doctor. I had to make
a decision. It was one of the toughest decisions I've had to make, but I know
it's the right one. I telephoned my parents and told them of my decision."
On whether she regrets attending Opening Ceremonies and practicing on Saturday:
"I didn't think twice about not going to Opening Ceremonies or not going to
practice. It's the Olympics and you have to push. I can't even think past right
now. The first practice always is tough. It got worse and worse through the day.
I didn't think in my heart that I could be at my best. I had to get checked out
right away. I knew I was in pain. You don't have to get it from somebody else to
know you have pain."
On whether she thought another few days would help:
"I had to make a decision. I would love to compete in my third Olympics.
It's physical pain that is keeping me from performing, but it also is emotional
as well. I think the best thing for me is to go home and get better. I don't
want to be a distraction here. "
On whether this was a new injury:
"I felt ready to compete. Yesterday after practice, it felt sore. I was
trying to stay positive."
On advice she might offer to Emily Hughes:
"The Olympics is an incredible experience. I know she's been working hard
and she'll make the country proud.
On if her career ends without a gold medal:
"If I don't win the gold, it's okay. I've had a great career."