I’ve been behind on my blogging, but I definitely wanted to catch up with the recent news that on June 24th, Michelle Kwan was officially inducted into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame, Class of 2022:
- Michelle Kwan (figure skating – 1994 (alternate), 1998, 2002): As the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history, Michelle is a two-time Olympic medalist, five-time world champion and nine-time world championship medalist. She competed at the senior level for over a decade during the most competitive era of women’s figure skating and was the U.S. women’s champion nine times.
I remember seeing Kwan live at the 2002 Salt Lake City winter Olympics and being mesmerized. To think I would have the opportunity to meet Kwan in person three times (at a Hillary Clinton fundraiser in San Francisco, a fundraiser for Vivek Viswanathan for California State Treasurer in San Francisco, and the kickoff event for AAPIs for Biden in Las Vegas) has been kind of amazing!
Additionaly, back in May, Kwan had her Senate confirmation hearing for Ambassador to Belize (her nomination was announced back in December 2021):
As a Taiwanese American, it was interesting to hear Kwan discuss the strong ties between Belize & Taiwan (as Belize is one of the few countries in the world that diplomatically recognizes the Republic of China over the People’s Republic of China).
It’s been quite a 2022 for Kwan, first with having her baby daughter in January, her induction into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, and her ambassadorship confirmation!
