Editing Michelle Kwan (section)

===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.