Editing Michelle Kwan (section)

== Career ==
[[File:Michelle Kwan Spiral.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Michelle Kwan performing her signature spiral at a practice session at the [[2002 U.S. Figure Skating Championships]]]]

Kwan won five [[World Figure Skating Championships|World Championships]] (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003), tying her with [[Carol Heiss]] (1956–1960) for the most world titles by an American. Kwan's nine world medals overall is the all-time record for an American skater in any discipline. The only ladies' singles skater with more world titles or medals is [[Sonia Henie]] of Norway. Kwan won nine [[United States Figure Skating Championships|U.S. Championships]] (1996, 1998–2005), tying the record for most wins set by [[Maribel Vinson-Owen]] (1928–1933, 1935–1937). She holds the record for the most consecutive U.S. titles (eight) and most consecutive U.S. Championship medals (twelve). She also earned the silver medal at the [[1998 Winter Olympics|1998 Nagano Olympics]] and the bronze medal in the [[2002 Winter Olympics|2002 Salt Lake City Olympics]]. Kwan has received a combined total of 57 perfect marks (6.0s) at major competitions, the singles record under the former [[6.0 judging system]].<ref name=USbio />

===Early competition===
In 1991, Michelle Kwan and her sister [[Karen Kwan|Karen]] began training with [[Frank Carroll (figure skater)|Frank Carroll]] in Lake Arrowhead, California. After one year of coaching by Carroll, 11-year-old Michelle placed 9th at the junior level at the United States Figure Skating Championships. At the age of 12 in 1992, Michelle passed the gold test to become a senior-level figure skater despite the disapproval of her coach. In 1993, Kwan finished sixth at her first senior U.S. championships. The next season, she won the [[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|1994 World Junior Championships]].

In 1994, Kwan finished second to [[Tonya Harding]] at the U.S. Championships, which ordinarily would have placed her on the U.S. team to the [[1994 Winter Olympic Games|1994 Olympic Games]] in [[Lillehammer]], Norway. That place was instead given to 1993 national champion [[Nancy Kerrigan]], who had been sidelined by an [[Olympic Games scandals#1994 Winter Olympics|assault and battery]] (eventually connected to Harding's ex-husband [[Jeff Gillooly]]) after a practice session at those championships. The 13-year-old Kwan went to Norway as an alternate but did not compete. Kerrigan and Harding both dropped out of eligible competition before the 1994 World Championships. Because of this (and teammate [[Nicole Bobek]] not making it out of the qualifying round), Kwan had the sole responsibility to ensure two entries for the U.S. at the [[1995 World Figure Skating Championships|1995 World Championships]] by placing in the top ten. Kwan had an unusual mistake in the short program and placed eleventh in that portion of the competition, but skated a strong freestyle program and finished eighth overall.

At the 1995 U.S. Championships, [[Nicole Bobek]] won the gold medal, while Kwan again placed second after struggling with her [[lutz jump]] in both the short program and free skate. At the [[1995 World Figure Skating Championships|1995 World Championships]], Kwan was in fifth place after the short program. She skated last in the free skate, giving the best performance of her career up to that point, completing all seven of her triple jumps, and "exuding joy and enthusiasm".{{Sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=48}} She finished in third place in the free skate, behind [[Chen Lu (figure skater)|Chen Lu]] from China, who came in first place, and French skater [[Surya Bonaly]], who came  in second. Kwan came in fourth place overall, behind American [[Nicole Bobek]], who came in third place overall, even though she came in fourth place in the free skate and despite Kwan's successful execution of her jumps, which were second in difficulty behind Bonaly's.{{Sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=48}}

===Artistic development and 1998 Olympics===
Kwan began to develop a more mature style during the 1995 season. She used "Romanza" for her short program and in her free skate, music from "Salome's dance" from the film score ''[[King of Kings (1961 film)|King of Kings]]'' by [[Miklós Rózsa]] and "The Dance of the Seven Veils" from the [[Richard Strauss]] opera [[Salome (opera)|''Salome'']], both pieces depicting the Biblical story of [[Salome]] seducing [[Herod the Great|King Herod]].{{Sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=49}} She also improved her extension, speed and jump technique, and performed to more difficult choreography.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 19, 2006 |title=1996 Worlds, lp "Salome" |website=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC32EBFgLUI}}</ref> Carroll defended their decision to make Kwan appear more mature by stating that they were giving the judges what they wanted, saying, "The judges were looking for the ladies' champion of the world, not the girls' champion of the world".{{Sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=49}}

In both her practices and during her performance at [[1995 Skate America|Skate America]], Kwan wore her hair in a bun instead of a ponytail and wore heavy theatrical makeup, including rhinestones pasted near the corner of her eyes.{{Sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=49}} Her costume consisted of "a short-sleeved rich purple dress with rhinestone-studded flesh-colored fabric across the midriff and deep front and black necklines, ornamated with elaborate sequined floral patterns in gold and bright pastels".{{Sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=49}} According to writer Ellyn Kestnbaum, Kwan was inspired more to the music than to the narrative, which as Kestnbaum criticized, revealed Kwan as "a sexual being".{{Sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=48}} Kestnbaum stated, however, that she found it difficult to construct a linear narrative about the seductive Salome, but that Kwan's moves "might better represent a young woman venturing confidently into the world, encountering loss and confusion, but ultimately finding peace and triumph".{{Sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=52}}{{Efn|See Kestnbaum, pp. 48–53, for her "deep reading" of Kwan's ''Salome'' program.}} Kestnbaum also stated that Kwan's movements in the program evoked "images of a sensual, luxurious, exotic Middle East".{{Sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=53}}

Kwan's free skate consisted of seven successfully-executed triple jumps, including two triple Lutz jumps, one of which was done in combination and was debuted at Skate America and the other preceded by intricate steps. Other elements, such as the complexity of her steps that connected these elements and her spin positions' originality and variety, also contributed to the program's difficulty and artistry. Kestnbaum insists that Kwan's increased speed, the strong debut of her triple-triple jump, and her improved poise, precision, and posture "say more than her hairstyle or makeup about her new maturity as a skater".{{Sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=52}} Kestnbaum states that Kwan's fellow competitors were better in how they executed flow across the ice, speed, and height of their jumps and that although Kwan exhibited more caution and control than her competitors, she skated with "new power and excitement compared to her younger self".{{Sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=52}} Kestnbaum credits the success of the ''Salome'' program to Kwan's intricate choreography, which featured emotional depth during the program's heavier moments and frequent reversals of direction that often unexpectedly led to spins or jumps.{{Sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=53}} Kwan ended up winning Skate America in 1995.{{Sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=52}}

Kwan won both the U.S. Championships and the World Championships in 1996. In the later event, she edged out defending champion [[Chen Lu (figure skater)|Chen Lu]] in a very close competition in which both competitors garnered two perfect 6.0s for [[List of figure skating terms#P|Presentation]] in the free skate.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}} She was the third youngest figure skater to hold both titles. The1996-97 season marked the beginning of a winning streak for Kwan that lasted more than a year, from the fall of 1995 to the fall of 1996. As Kestnbaum put it, Kwan became "the most consistent and well-rounded skater in the [women's] field, taking on an almost legendary mystique as she continued to mature as a feminine artistic skater emphasizing beauty, musicality, and dramatic storylines concerned with love and death".<ref name="kestnbaum-1552">Kestnbaum, p. 155</ref>


In the 1996–97 season, Kwan skated to "Dream of Desdemona" (short program) and "Taj Mahal" (free skate). During this season, Kwan struggled with her [[Figure skating jump|jumps]] because of a growth spurt, which affected her balance on her jump, and problems with new skating boots which she wore for an endorsement contract with the manufacturer.<ref name="kestnbaum-1552">Kestnbaum, p. 155</ref><ref name="tragedys202">See [https://www.usatoday.com/olympics/owg98/og1/ogfs06.htm The tragedy of turning 20] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010913021258/http://usatoday.com/olympics/owg98/og1/ogfs06.htm |date=September 13, 2001 }} by Christine Brennan, July 12, 1999, USA Today accessed October 9, 2006.</ref> She won the short program at the [[1997 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|1997 U.S. Nationals]], but fell early in her free skate and as she later stated, "panicked" and made several more errors. She lost to [[Tara Lipinski]], who came in first place in her free skate. Three weeks later, at the [[Champion Series Final]], she again lost to Lipinski, who completed more successful jumps than Kwan in both the short program and free skate.<ref name="kestnbaum-1552" /> At the [[1997 World Figure Skating Championships|1997 World Championships]], Kwan came in second place, behind Lipinski, who won the gold medal. Kwan came in fourth place in her short program due to an unsuccessful jump combination while Lipinski came in first place and Irina Slutskaya, who missed her combination jump, came in sixth place. All three skaters performed well during their free skates, each earning first-place ordinals from three of the nine judges. Kwan won the free skate, with Lipinski coming in second place and Slutskaya coming in third place. Kwan's jumps in her free skate were not as difficult as Lipinski and Slutskaya's, but her skating between her jumps was more complex and demonstrated "more polished refinement".<ref>Kestnbaum. p. 156</ref> Overall, Lipinski came in first place, Kwan came in second place, and Slutskaya came in fourth place behind [[Vanessa Gusmeroli]] of France.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Longman |first=Jere |date=23 March 1997 |title=Lipinski, 14, Is Youngest World Champion |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/23/sports/lipinski-14-is-youngest-world-champion.html?pagewanted=2 |access-date=23 April 2023 |archive-date=April 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425215920/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/23/sports/lipinski-14-is-youngest-world-champion.html?pagewanted=2 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Going into the 1997—98 Olympic season, the American press "play[ed] up the Kwan-Lipinski rivalry for all it was worth".<ref name="kestnbaum-158">Kestnbaum, p. 158</ref> According to Kestnbaum, Kwan's programs emphasized sophistication and pure skating, which Kestnbaum called "a change of pace"<ref name="kestnbaum-158" /> from her previous two seasons, which featured dramatic storylines. Kestbaum also called both Kwan's programs "carefully choreographed expressions of joy".<ref name="kestnbaum-163"/> For Kwan's short program, she chose piano music by [[Sergei Rachmaninoff|Rachmaninoff]], and for her free skating program, she chose music from the concerto ''Lyra Angelica'' by [[William Alwyn]]. She came in first place at Skate America, winning both the short program and free skate, while Lipinski came in second place.<ref name="kestnbaum-158" /> She also won [[Skate Canada International|Skate Canada]], but suffered a stress fracture on her foot and was forced to withdraw from her third [[Grand Prix Final|Champions Series Final]]. Kwan regained her U.S. title from Lipinski at the 1998 National Championships, despite her fractured toe.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}} Her injury prevented her from attempting her triple toe-triple toe combination, but she completed all seven jumps in her free program earning 6.0s from eight of the nine judges. As Kestnbaum put it, Kwan "skated with a transcendent floating quality that was becoming her trademark".<ref>Kestnbaum, p. 160</ref> Many people consider her performances at the 1998 U.S. Championships to be the high point of her career from both a technical and artistic standpoint.<ref>[http://cbs.sportsline.com/u/olympics/nagano98/figuresk8/news/ladies1898.htm 1998 Nationals: Lipinski Fall, Kwan wins with 6.0s] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030420204615/http://cbs.sportsline.com/u/olympics/nagano98/figuresk8/news/ladies1898.htm |date=April 20, 2003 }} CBS Sportsline</ref> Both performances earned her fifteen perfect 6.0s and left two judges in tears.<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/olympics/owg98/og6/ogfs618.htm Judges in Tears] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020223025615/http://www.usatoday.com/olympics/owg98/og6/ogfs618.htm |date=February 23, 2002 }} USA Today, 1998 accessed October 13, 2006</ref>

Kwan and Lipinski were co-favorites to win the [[1998 Winter Olympic Games|1998 Olympic Games]] in [[Nagano (city)|Nagano, Japan]]. Kwan placed first in the short program, winning eight first place votes out of nine judges, while Lipinski came in second place. In the free skate, Kwan, who skated first in the final group, executed a clean seven-triple performance but placed behind Lipinski, who also did seven triples including a triple loop/triple loop combination and a triple toe-loop/half-loop/triple Salchow. Kwan's performance was "graceful and well-measured, filled with complex edging and unusual moves such as a sequence of spins in both directions".<ref name="kestnbaum-162">Kestnbaum, p. 162</ref> Kestnbaum called Kwan's free skate "tentative and slow" as compared to her performance at Nationals. Her jumps were more difficult and bigger than Lipinski's, but Kwan's were not as high and did not cover as much ice as her competitors' jumps.<ref name="kestnbaum-162"/> Lipinski's spins were faster than Kwan's. The judges awarded Lipinski with higher technical scores and gave both Lipinski and Kwan the same presentation scores, mostly 5.9s, although Lipinski won the free skate.<ref name="kestnbaum-163">Kestnbaum, p. 163</ref> Kwan ended up winning the silver medal, with the gold medal going to Lipinski and the bronze medal to [[Chen Lu (figure skater)|Chen Lu]].<ref>[http://cbs.sportsline.com/u/olympics/nagano98/figuresk8/feb98/kwan22198.htm Kwan vows to fight until 2002] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030421082731/http://cbs.sportsline.com/u/olympics/nagano98/figuresk8/feb98/kwan22198.htm |date=April 21, 2003 }} CBS Sportline, Feb 1998 accessed October 13, 2006</ref><ref>Kestnbaum, p. 161</ref>

Lipinski and Chen both retired from competitive skating shortly after the Olympics, while Kwan went on to win the 1998 World Championships in Minneapolis.

===From 1998 to 2002 Olympics===
[[File:Michelle Kwan.jpg|thumb|Kwan completing her [[Scheherazade (Rimsky-Korsakov)|Scheherazade]] long program at the [[2001–02 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final]] in Ontario, Canada]]
Kwan continued to compete as an eligible skater in the 1998–99 season, although she bypassed the fall Grand Prix season and instead chose to skate in a series of made-for-television pro-am events. Her "regular" competitive programs that season were "Fate of Carmen" (short program) and "Lamento D'Ariane" (free skate). Kwan won her third national title at the 1999 U.S. Championships, competing against a weak field. At the 1999 World Championships, Kwan did not skate her best,<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120803193810/http://www.canoe.ca/SlamSkating99Worlds/mar27_kwan.html Favored Kwan stuck in fourth place]}} Slam Figure Skating, March 1999 accessed October 13, 2006.</ref> and placed second behind Russian competitor [[Maria Butyrskaya]].<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120722144644/http://www.canoe.ca/SlamSkating99Worlds/mar28_rus.html Butyrskaya wins; Russians Sweep]}} Slam Figure Skating, March 1999 accessed October 13, 2006.</ref>

Kwan's win at the 2000 U.S. Nationals was controversial to some.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/14/sports/figure-skating-kwan-wins-but-challengers-are-rising-fast-to-meet-her.html?scp=1&sq=kwan&st=nyt | work = The New York Times | first = Jere | last = Longman | title = FIGURE SKATING; Kwan Wins, but Challengers Are Rising Fast to Meet Her | date = February 14, 2000 | access-date = February 17, 2017 | archive-date = March 16, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170316114107/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/14/sports/figure-skating-kwan-wins-but-challengers-are-rising-fast-to-meet-her.html?scp=1&sq=kwan&st=nyt | url-status = live }}</ref> She was criticized for planning an easier solo jump in her short program than some of her competitors (a triple [[toe loop jump|toe loop]] rather than a triple [[flip jump|flip]]), and fell on this element in the competition. The judges nevertheless placed her third in that segment behind younger challengers [[Sasha Cohen]] and [[Sarah Hughes]];<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/skating/news/2000/0214/356631.html|title=The next generation chasing Kwan|date=February 14, 2000|work=ESPN|agency=Associated Press|location=[[Cleveland|Cleveland, Ohio]]|publication-place=[[Bristol, Connecticut]]|language=en|access-date=June 1, 2021|archive-date=June 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602220128/https://www.espn.com/skating/news/2000/0214/356631.html|url-status=live}}</ref> however, the placement still kept her in contention for the title. Ultimately, she won the free skate with the best performance of the night, capturing 8 of the 9 first-place ordinals.<ref>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/magazine/olympics/news/2000/02/15/oly0221/ No. 2 With a Bullet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201043407/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/magazine/olympics/news/2000/02/15/oly0221/ |date=December 1, 2007 }} Sports Illustrated, February 2000 accessed October 13, 2006<br />- [https://www.espn.com/skating/news/2000/0212/353513.html Kwan wins Fourth Title]  ESPN, February 2000 accessed October 13, 2006.</ref> At the 2000 World Championships, Kwan was again in third place after the short program, behind [[Maria Butyrskaya]] and [[Irina Slutskaya]]. In her free skate, Kwan landed seven triple jumps, including a triple toe loop/triple toe loop combination, and won that segment of the competition. Butyrskaya lost her commanding lead by finishing third behind Slutskaya in the free skate, allowing Kwan to win the overall title as well.<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/sports/euro/skatecap.htm Scandal dampens World Figure Skating Championships] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090622021111/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/euro/skatecap.htm |date=June 22, 2009 }}, ''USA Today'', accessed October 9, 2006.</ref>

During the 2000–2001 season, Kwan began working with the famed designer (and former figure skater) [[Vera Wang]], who designed most of her competition and exhibition costumes for the next six years. Kwan was only the second figure skater Wang designed for, following [[Nancy Kerrigan]].<ref>[http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20666804,00.html Michelle Kwan wears Vera wedding dress] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520220208/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20666804,00.html |date=May 20, 2014 }}, accessed May 20, 2014.<br />- [http://www.cosmopolitan.com/celebrity/news/ice-skating-costume-facts Figure skating costume facts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522062356/http://www.cosmopolitan.com/celebrity/news/ice-skating-costume-facts |date=May 22, 2014 }}, accessed May 20, 2014.</ref> At that year's national championships, Kwan again won the title, receiving first-place ordinals from all 9 judges in both the short program and free skate. At the 2001 World Championships, Kwan was second behind Slutskaya in the short program. Kwan won the title with her "Song of the Black Swan" free skate, executing 7 triples, including a triple toe loop/triple toe loop combination.<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/sports/comment/brennan/2001-03-26-brennan.htm Drumbeats start for Kwan in 2002] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511235601/https://www.usatoday.com/sports/comment/brennan/2001-03-26-brennan.htm |date=May 11, 2008 }} Christine Brennan, USA Today, March 2001 accessed October 13, 2006.</ref>
[[File:Michelle Kwan 2002 Olympics Short Program 02.jpg|left|thumb|Kwan performing her short program at the [[2002 Winter Olympics]]]]
Kwan and Carroll decided to end their coaching relationship two days before the start of the [[2001 Skate America]] competition.<ref name=bio0506 /> In interviews, Kwan said she needed to "take responsibility" for her skating.<ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2001/10/25/SP219125.DTL Kwan dismisses longtime coach] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091222050120/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fchronicle%2Farchive%2F2001%2F10%2F25%2FSP219125.DTL |date=December 22, 2009 }} SFGate.com – October 2001 accessed October 14, 2006.</ref> Coachless, Kwan arrived at the 2002 U.S. Championships in Los Angeles amid the media's scrutiny over her separation with Carroll and her season's inconsistencies. Kwan won the competition with a revived "Rachmaninoff" short program and a new "[[Scheherazade (Rimsky-Korsakov)|Scheherazade]]" program for her free skate, securing a place on the [[2002 Winter Olympics|2002 Olympic team]]. Joining her on the team were [[Sasha Cohen]] (second) and [[Sarah Hughes]] (third).<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/olympics/saltlake/figure/2002-01-12-us-women.htm Kwan recaptures season and the national crown] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021004122123/https://www.usatoday.com/olympics/saltlake/figure/2002-01-12-us-women.htm |date=October 4, 2002 }} USA Today – January 2002 accessed October 14, 2006.</ref> The 21-year-old Kwan and Russia's [[Irina Slutskaya]] were favorites to win the gold. Kwan led after the short program, followed by Slutskaya, Cohen, and Hughes. In the free skate, Kwan two-footed her triple [[toe loop]] combination and fell on her [[Flip jump|triple flip]], while [[Sarah Hughes]] skated a clean program. Kwan won the bronze medal behind Hughes and Slutskaya.<ref name=hughesupset>See [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2002/figure_skating/news/2002/02/21/womens_final_ap/ Hughes Edges Slutskaya, Kwan for Gold] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061030085100/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2002/figure_skating/news/2002/02/21/womens_final_ap/ |date=October 30, 2006 }} Hughes Edges Kwan and Slutskaya to win gold, CNN Sports Illustrated, February 21, 2002 accessed October 9, 2006.</ref> Kwan's final event of the season was the [[2002 World Figure Skating Championships|2002 Worlds]], where she won the silver medal behind Slutskaya.

===2002–2006===
[[File:Kwan WM2004 1.jpg|thumb|Kwan skating to "[[Fallin' (Alicia Keys song)|Fallin']]" in the [[2004 World Figure Skating Championships]] in [[Dortmund]], Germany]]
Kwan began working with coach [[Scott Williams (figure skater)|Scott Williams]] in the summer of 2002.<ref name=bio0506 /> She continued to compete on the Olympic-eligible circuit, although in a more limited way. During the fall seasons of 2002 to 2004, Kwan competed in only one [[ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating|Grand Prix]] event, [[Skate America]] in the fall of 2002, which she entered as a last-minute replacement. She won the event and qualified for the [[Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final|Grand Prix Final]] but chose not to compete in it. Kwan chose to not compete in Grand Prix events in the 2003 and 2004 seasons where the [[ISU Judging System|new judging system]] was being used. Kwan won all phases of every competition she entered in the 2002–2003 competitive season with her programs: Peter Gabriel's "The Feeling Begins" from ''[[Passion (Peter Gabriel album)|The Last Temptation of Christ]]'' (short program) and "[[Concierto de Aranjuez]]" (free skate). She won the U.S. Championships again and regained her World title.

In autumn 2003, she hired the noted technician [[Rafael Arutyunyan]] as her coach,<ref name=bio0506 /> with whom she attempted to increase the technical difficulty of her programs and hone her jump technique. In the 2003–2004 competitive season, she skated again to "The Feeling Begins" for her short program, and Puccini's "[[Tosca]]" for her long program. Again, Kwan won the U.S. Championships, earning seven more 6.0s for presentation during the free skating. At the [[2004 World Figure Skating Championships|2004 World Championships]], after a difficult qualifying round, Kwan was penalized in her short program for going two seconds over the time limit. This caused her to place fourth going into the long program, behind American [[Sasha Cohen]], Japan's [[Shizuka Arakawa]], and [[Miki Ando]].<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/27/sports/figure-skating-kwan-s-short-program-not-short-enough-cohen-is-leader.html | work = The New York Times | title = FIGURE SKATING; Kwan's Short Program Not Short Enough; Cohen Is Leader | first = Christopher | last = Clarey | date = March 27, 2004 | access-date = May 12, 2010 | archive-date = November 1, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131101123824/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/27/sports/figure-skating-kwan-s-short-program-not-short-enough-cohen-is-leader.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Kwan skated a clean performance with five triples and received the last 6.0 marks given at the World Championships. She placed second in the free skating portion (she was one judge short from winning the free skating) and placed third overall, behind Arakawa (who performed seven triples, including two triple-triple combinations) and Cohen.

For the 2004–2005 competitive season, Kwan skated her long program to "[[Boléro]]", choreographed by British ice dancer [[Christopher Dean]] who had famously skated to the music with [[Jayne Torvill]] two decades before, and debuted a new short program, "Adagio" from [[Aram Khachaturian]]'s ballet ''[[Spartacus (ballet)|Spartacus]]''. At the U.S. Championships, she won her 9th title, tying the all-time record previously set by [[Maribel Vinson-Owen]]. Vinson-Owen had coached [[Frank Carroll (figure skater)|Frank Carroll]], who in turn coached Kwan. At the 2005 World Championship, Kwan competed for the first time under the new judging system. She had a rough qualifying round and placed third in the short program. In the free skate, Kwan fell on her triple [[salchow jump|salchow]] and two-footed a triple [[lutz jump|lutz]]. Although she finished third in both the short and long program portion of the competition, Kwan was edged by [[Carolina Kostner]] for the bronze medal and finished fourth overall, missing third place by 0.37 points. It was the first time since 1995 that Kwan had failed to medal at any international competition, and would be her final competitive event.

====2006 Olympics====
[[File:Michelle Kwan Turin 2006 Games.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Kwan announcing her withdrawal from the [[2006 Winter Olympics]] in Turin, Italy, February 12, 2006]]
Kwan looked at the 2005 Worlds as a learning experience in the [[ISU Judging System]]. She continued to train and stated that she would attempt to qualify for the [[Figure skating at the 2006 Winter Olympics|2006 Olympic Games]] in [[Turin]], Italy.<ref name="afampointofview.com">{{cite web|url=http://afampointofview.com/POV%20Archives/2007/May%202007/Sports_Sullivan%20Award.htm |title=Sullivan Award Part V of V: The 2000s |access-date=July 23, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928004106/http://afampointofview.com/POV%20Archives/2007/May%202007/Sports_Sullivan%20Award.htm |archive-date=September 28, 2007 }} Retrieved July 23, 2007</ref> However, following a hip injury, she was forced to withdraw from her three planned competitions in the fall of 2005. Kwan skated her new short program ("Totentanz") at a made-for-TV event in December 2005, but her performance was well below her usual standard. On January 4, 2006, Kwan withdrew from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships with an abdominal injury incurred in December 2005. One week later, she filed a petition with the USFSA for a medical waiver to be placed on the 2006 Olympic figure skating team.<ref name="afampointofview.com" /> On January 14, 2006, after the United States ladies' figure skating event, the USFSA's International Committee met and in a 20 to 3 vote approved Kwan's petition under the stipulation that she show her physical and competitive readiness to a five-member monitoring panel by January 27.

Kwan performed her long and short programs for the panel on the stipulated day, and her spot on the Olympic team was established, as the panel felt she was fit to compete. However, on February 12, 2006, the [[United States Olympic Committee]] announced that Kwan had withdrawn from the Games after suffering a new groin injury in her first practice in Turin. Kwan remarked that she "respected the Olympics too much to compete".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060222021622/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11302192 Injured Kwan withdraws from Olympics], Associated Press, February 13, 2006, accessed October 8, 2006.</ref> The Turin organizing committee accepted the USOC's application for [[Emily Hughes]] (who had finished third at the U.S. Championships) to compete as Kwan's replacement.

After her withdrawal from the Olympic team, Kwan turned down an offer to stay in Turin as a figure skating commentator for [[NBC Sports]].<ref>David Bauder,[https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/torino/2006-02-13-kwan-nbc_x.htm Kwan says thanks, but no, to NBC's offer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802042959/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/torino/2006-02-13-kwan-nbc_x.htm |date=August 2, 2017 }}, Associated Press (February 13, 2007).</ref> During an interview with [[Bob Costas]] and [[Scott Hamilton (figure skater)|Scott Hamilton]], Kwan said she was not retiring yet.

Kwan underwent elective [[arthroscopic surgery]] in August 2006 to repair a torn [[acetabular labrum|labrum]] in her right hip, an old injury which she traces back to 2002.<ref name=latoutlook /> According to Kwan, the surgery allowed her to skate pain-free for the first time in four years.<ref name=pismk />

===After 2006===
Kwan did not compete during the 2006–2007 figure skating season.<ref>[http://www.usfsa.org/Story.asp?id=35383&type=news Michelle Kwan To Skip 2006–07 Competitive Season] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006170307/http://www.usfsa.org/Story.asp?id=35383&type=news |date=October 6, 2015 }}, United States Figure Skating Association, September 6, 2006, accessed September 6, 2006.</ref>

Kwan told the Associated Press in October 2007 that she would decide in 2009 if she planned to compete in the [[2010 Winter Olympics]],<ref name=pismk /> but she ultimately decided not to do so, focusing instead on graduate school.<ref name=Elliott /> She has said "Representing the United States as an American Public Diplomacy Envoy the past three years has been very rewarding, and I want to do more." After graduating from the University of Denver in 2009, Kwan said "Furthering my education will bring me closer to that goal, and I don't want to wait any longer to continue the journey."<ref name=Elliott />

On February 17, 2010, Kwan told [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] in an interview that she was continuing her studies as a graduate student at the Tufts University [[Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy]], as well as continuing her work as a Public Diplomacy Envoy. Kwan also said she would be commentating for Good Morning America at the 2010 Winter Olympics.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://news.yahoo.com/video/entertainment-15749636/18196202#video=18196202 | title = Michelle Kwan Off the Ice | access-date = February 17, 2010 | date = February 17, 2010 | publisher = [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] | archive-date = February 19, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100219092412/http://news.yahoo.com/video/entertainment-15749636/18196202#video=18196202 | url-status = live }} (video)</ref> <!-- This link looks dead. Another url, http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/video/michelle-kwan-off-ice-9866231 does not work outside the US -->

In August 2009, Kwan made her first on-ice appearance in several years, performing at [[Ice All Stars]], a show headlined by South Korean world champion [[Yuna Kim]] in [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]]. Kim considered Kwan her idol growing up.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2009-07-03-kwan-return_N.htm | title = Kwan Returning To Ice For August Show | access-date = April 24, 2011 | date = July 3, 2009 | publisher = [[Associated Press]] | work = [[USA Today]]}}</ref> Kwan also later appeared in Kim's [[All That Skate : Summer, Los Angeles|All That Skate]] shows in South Korea and Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/sports/2010/06/136_67089.html | title = Yu-na, Kwan to do another show in July | date = June 4, 2010 | work = [[The Korea Times]] | access-date = June 5, 2010 | archive-date = October 27, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121027184806/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/sports/2010/06/136_67089.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

She was chosen as the guest of honor to help open a new synthetic skating rink at the [[Marina Bay Sands]] resort in [[Singapore]] in December 2010, where she performed a modified routine to "Winter Song", a program she self-choreographed with her sister.<ref name=ao101217 /> She returned to Singapore a month later as a Public Diplomacy Envoy<ref name=usdos1101 /> to meet local students and to promote ice skating in the tropical country.<ref name=st110112 />

As of 2008, Kwan is a member of the Chinese-American organization [[Committee of 100 (United States)|Committee of 100]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.committee100.org/aboutus/aboutus_members.php?start=50&pn=7&sort=ln&dis=25 |title=Committee of 100 |access-date=November 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116114730/http://www.committee100.org/aboutus/aboutus_members.php?start=50&pn=7&sort=ln&dis=25 |archive-date=January 16, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2014, Kwan joined [[Fox Sports 1]] for its [[2014 Winter Olympics|Winter Olympics]] broadcast.<ref>{{cite web | last = Wilner | first = Barry | url = https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/06/michelle-kwan-fox-sports-olympics-tv_n_3712441.html | title = Michelle Kwan To Cover Winter Olympics Sochi For Fox Sports | website = [[HuffPost]] | date = August 5, 2013 | access-date = February 2, 2014 | archive-date = February 19, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140219050305/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/06/michelle-kwan-fox-sports-olympics-tv_n_3712441.html | url-status = live }}</ref>