Michelle Kwan's parents are immigrants from China. Kwan started to skate at the age of five after watching her

older brother play hockey. She won her first figure skating competition at age 7.  Kwan always wears a Chinese

good luck charm around her neck that was given to her by her grandmother.

Kwan is a five-time World Champion (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003), the 1998 Olympic silver medalist and has won

nine National titles, which ties the record for U.S. titles held by Maribel Vinson since 1937. Kwan left her coach of

ten years, Frank Carroll, just two days before Skate America end of October 2001 and put herself on the ice for the

whole season. She started to work with Scott Williams in summer 2002 and is coached by Rafael Arutunian since

fall 2003.

Kwan missed most of the 2005/2006 season including the US National Championships due to hip and groin

injuries. She was named to the Olympic team after skating her programs in front of a nomination committee on

January 27.

Kwan's elder sister Karen competed at the international level as well.