New Hersh article on Kwan ... 1/04/04

[nyskatefan]

An in-depth article on how she is feeling these days ... about skating and life.


http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/international/cs-0401040286jan04,1,1822335.story?coll=cs-international-print

[PAskate]

Can someone who has read this article post a summary/review? The Trib site requires registration.

Thanks :D

[JDC1]

He went up to Lake Arrowhead and met with Michelle. Talks about how she missed her sister's wedding in Italy because she was training for Detroit - Really surprised by that. Touches on something interesting without exploring it too much in that Michelle admits she's a creature of habit, same resteraunts, same food, I'll resist the temptation to analzye too much. :-) Talks about how she doesn't travel a la vacation because no one to go with...why not take a friend? That's kinda sad. There seems to be a sort of melancholy tone to the interview and Michelle's responses but not really sad or whiny. She seems focused on 2006 but she's not sure why and she's not sure she should be, she wants a balanced life but she wants to skate and win and it seems to be tough for her to figure out how to achieve balance. Hopes to have the 3/3 in her program by March but admits too much training of it hurts her hip so Rafael has her doing 3/2/2's. In many ways she sounds like a typical post college 20 something(yes I know she's still in school) in that she has many interests and is scared to pick the wrong one, most of us have been there and some still are even into our 30's. :)

[Designdiva]

"Talks about how she missed her sister's wedding in Italy because she was training for Detroit - Really surprised by that. "

That's not that surprising. My younger brother missed my wedding a few years ago because it conflicted with his college finals.

I do, however, hope MK figures out what she wants out of life. I really think she should have taken more college course to help sort that out. But she seems to be alone but not necessarily lonely, which is good thing.

[bbtano]

PAskate, it's free to register. It's a good article....Michelle is open and honest in her comments. I would recommend reading it if you are a fan of hers.

[loveskating]

I think all of us recall that our families and the society indulged our risk taking when we were young...but as we grew older, the support and the indulgences were retracted! Take the risks in your early 20s, and you will have a much better chance of finding yourself, while you still have that emotional (and financial in some cases) support! This is advice I give my own child, and it is advice I give to Michelle, as well.

[NoVa Sk8r]

There's another similar article that is accessible to all:
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/skating/0104/04kwan.html

Hey Designdiva, we miss you at Mt. Vernon! Hope all is well in StL.

[Designdiva]

NoVA Sk8r!!!!

How are you! I miss you guys like CRAZY!! Tell everyone I said hello and that I send smooches!

[sachelle]

that surprises me as they are best friends. A couple days off would not have mattered. Maybe this was Karen's day to shine and the close timing was in fact sibling rivalry. (michelle is not the only analyst out there) ;)

[sachelle]

Sounds like something Danny would say. I think Peter Oppegard and Karen went together for a long time because the Kwans, probably due to
Michelle's hypernotoriety in the FS world (not to mention the sheer number of people who come across as stalkers) have been a little Island unto themselves. Plus, Dad is an immigrant from China and Peter is from another culture.

We'll have to see if Karen changes her name to Oppegard. I'm sure even as loving sister, Karen Kwan would love to have been in Michelle's skates a few times. I think Kwan the Elder chose Italy because it's very far away from California. All this is conjecture, but I have this 6th sense...8-) We'll know when the baby is born if Mama accidently blurts to the media, "and here is our beatiful new gold medalist!"

[valuvsmk]

Originally posted by sachelle
Sounds like something Danny would say. I think Peter Oppegard and Karen went together for a long time because the Kwans, probably due to
Michelle's hypernotoriety in the FS world (not to mention the sheer number of people who come across as stalkers) have been a little Island unto themselves. Plus, Dad is an immigrant from China and Peter is from another culture.

We'll have to see if Karen changes her name to Oppegard. I'm sure even as loving sister, Karen Kwan would love to have been in Michelle's skates a few times. I think Kwan the Elder chose Italy because it's very far away from California. All this is conjecture, but I have this 6th sense...8-) We'll know when the baby is born if Mama accidently blurts to the media, "and here is our beatiful new gold medalist!"

I agree, all this is conjecture. Why do you feel comfortable posting this here? Do Karen and Peter, much less the rest of the Kwan family, not deserve some respect from you?

I find this entire post rude.

[sachelle]

Apprently you don't see I was kidding around with Bondo. It was tongue in cheek. Sorry not your cup of tea. We can't be humorous, valv? Well there are so many other posts here you will like, fortunately. Sorry you seem offended. :D