October 26, 2002 - It is very early in the figure skating season, but Michelle Kwan, the US female skater who made no commitment to skate in any competition this year, won her seventh Skate America Title in Spokane,WA today. Although she did not plan to skate in this competion, Michelle's sense of patriotic duty and her competitive nature, compelled her to say yes when the US Figure Skating Union asked her to replace Sarah Hughes after Hughes pulled out of the event due to an injury. With only 2 weeks to get ready, Michelle pulled together a short program that put her in first place going into the free (long) skate and mesmorized those in attendance. Her long program, which is only 6 weeks old, was tested out during The Campbells Figure Skating competion, her first competition of the year, where she also brought home a gold. Skate America is an International figure Skating competition that helps determine the ranking of the worlds figure skaters ( written by Susan Pearson)
10/27/02 - Michelle is ranked numer ONE by the International Figure Skating Union
We congratulate her for a wonderful start to the 2002-2003 figure skating season and pray she skates her heart out for the rest of the year.
10/27/02U.S. Ladies Win Skate America Gold, Silver
10/27/02Kwan Lands Feet First in First
10/26/02 Verdict on Kwan: In class all alone
10/26/02Michelle Kwan wins short program
10/26/02Kwan wins seventh Skate America Title
