Article in January 2000 issue of Blast

An Interview with Michelle Kwan

We're always focusing on music and our favorite actors and actresses, that we wanted to try something different. Michelle Kwan has dazzled us all with her skating performances. We talked to her one on one to discuss her new book, her career and what she does best, ice skating.

When did you decide that you wanted to be an ice-skater?
Michelle: I started skating when I was five years old. My sister and I would always go to the rink after school and we would watch hockey. We begged our parents to let us skate, but at the time we were too young. We started seeing kids our age skating so that's pretty much how we began. We would go on the ice and start playing around. I didn't get serious until I was about seven or eight years old when I saw the Olympics.

When you first started, was it hard to believe that you would be performing with your skating idols?
Michelle: I was totally star-struck when I was on tour. I was invited to the Champions on Ice. When I was younger, these people were incredible to me. When I was older, I was on tour with them. At first it was so weird, but now it's natural.

What are you doing now?
Michelle: Everyday, I skate about three sessions - one in the morning, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. Between that, I do my schoolwork, eat and work out in the gym.

How do you prepare yourself before each performance?
Michelle: Usually I don't like to talk too much before I skate. I like to focus on the task at hand. I visualize my program and start warming up.

What do you want reader's to grasp about your book, The Winning Attitude?
Michelle: It was a good idea for me to tell kids about my experiences and the dreams and goals I had growing up. I know that kids have dreams, but they don't know how to get there. They have to believe and understand what I'm saying and hopefully, it will help them. I hope kids can learn something from my experience and the steps I've taken to get where I am. I want kids to realize their dreams and make it happen. They have to believe in themselves and realize that it does take time, but they can do anything if they set their mind to it.

Have you had any embarrassing moments on the ice?
Michelle: I was skating in a performance and the annoucer called my name. I went out to take my pose and wiped out. You expect to fall during a performance but not before it. I was so embarrassed!

Check out the picture with the article.

Thanks to Grace for typing this out for us!


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