Compulsory Glance: Michelle Kwan’s Trip To Turin In Jeopardy

Ice Pick: Kwan’s Injury Forcing Her To Petition For Olympic Spot

Michelle Kwan has withdrawn from the U.S. figure skating championships due to injury and will petition the U.S. Figure Skating Association’s (USFSA) Int’l Committee for a spot in the Turin Games, according to Helene Elliott of the L.A. TIMES. The U.S. championship serves as the Olympic trials. The committee will meet in St. Louis January 14 “to choose the three-woman Turin team and an alternate” (L.A. TIMES, 1/5). ESPN.com’s Amy Rosewater wrote the petition is a “power play on Kwan’s part. Not only has she become the sport’s most visible face, but she also has already lined up major Olympics endorsement deals with Coca-Cola, Visa and East-West Bank.” She is “one of five major athletes who will be featured in Coca-Cola’s commercials and beverage packaging leading up to the Games.” But Coca-Cola spokesperson Susan McDermott said Kwan’s “decision to withdraw doesn't really affect us. Our theme is ‘Live Olympic’ and as a two-time Olympic medalist and skating icon, we believe she’s already exemplified that theme perfectly — even if she doesn’t compete this time” (ESPN.com, 1/4). USFSA Dir of Media Relations Lindsay DeWall said the committee “will abide by the criteria and not be influenced by Kwan’s popularity with fans, sponsors or NBC.” DeWall indicated that the committee’s job is to pick “the best possible team.” DeWall: “You won’t see anything about current commercials in the guidelines” (MIAMI HERALD, 1/5).

BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT: USA TODAY’s Christine Brennan writes Kwan’s withdrawal is a “devastating blow to the [U.S. figure skating championships], and a real shocker for the various sponsoring companies, TV networks and millions of fans who thought there was only one figure skater on earth for the past decade or so.” If “anyone deserves a second chance in U.S. skating, it’s Kwan” (USA TODAY, 1/5). In Chicago, Philip Hersh writes, “Michelle Kwan belongs in the Olympics simply because she is Michelle Kwan. ... To those who think Kwan will get the benefit of the doubt because of her reputation, there is one answer: she should” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/5).