What will Michelle do after 2002?

[virginia girl]

Personally, I don't see Michelle having a long pro career once she's finished eligible skating, for these reasons: 1) She's been able to make good money as an eligible skater, with prize money and endorsements, so it's not like the old days, when a top-level skater turned pro so they could repay their folks and earn a living. She is set for life financially now. 2) Over and over again in interviews, Michelle talks about how much she loves to compete and push herself to improve. I don't see her being satisfied over the long term with competition in the pro ranks. Most important... 3) Now that she's in college, Michelle seems to be very interested in the world beyond skating. I see her being successful in whatever she chooses to do, and she's so intelligent and inquisitive that she must already be getting some idea of what her life may be like after skating. What do y'all think?

[skatingfan]

I have no idea what Michelle will do next year, and definitely not beyond 2002. As her fan I wish 1. she will win gold in 2002. 2. She will stay elibigible and win another medal regardless of color in 2006. 3. she will grad from college maybe go to grad, law or medical school 4. She will fall in love with a wonderful guy. 5. She will be a great ambassador for f.s. just like Flemming in the next few decades . 6. Someday she will be ISU president. MOST IMPPORTANT regardless of what she does from this point on, I wish her all the happiness.

[Icare]

Skatingfan: Great thoughts! How about (7) President of USA. She can be a good one if she gets a good education, and learns her rope while being a ISU president and she sets her mind to it, because she is a good role model for this generation :-) Shhhhh....Let her get her gold first!

[sw10025a]

Michelle running for president? I mean she's smart, she's thoughtful, introspective, working on getting a good education, level headed, gracious and well mannered. . .don't you think she's overqualified for the job? But heh, I'll bite: who'll be her first man?

[Willowdale]

8) a commentator! 9) will rule the professional field if she decides to turn pro after 2002...

[A fan]

Michelle can't be a politician, she doesn't know how to lie. I think she should turn pro after 2002 and kick Tara's butt in every comp coming and going.

[kwanette]

Whatever the outcome of 2002, Michelle will be happy. She will earn a degree, perhaps skate in pro comps, or do specials and tour. I am not concerned with her competition...who knows, maybe they'll do a special "Tara and Michelle...The Rivalry Revisited" ala the Nancy-Tonya interview of the two will become great friends ala Kat and Roz...tongue in cheek...I think that the sooner we stop using Tara and Michelle in the same breath, the better off we all will be. Michelle is an icon...she is probably the most popular skater...female..in the history of skating. (I know I will get a reaction to that one).I for one plan to enjoy every moment of her skating, because even if it lasts another 50 years, that will still be far too brief a time for me.

[sw10025]

I can practically *guarantee* you that you will never, never, ever see Michelle and Tara in the same competition ever again. I'd be willing to bet some massive amounts of cash on that. sw "cluck, cluck, cluck" 10025

[Karin]

first...tara doesn't need MK to beat her...leave that up to someone else!!! hahaha... and then...ITA with sw!!!...hahaha...oh here comes MK!!!...RUN!!!

[Sharon]

4b. have a wonderful family! 10.? Have a special place in the FS museum for most 6.0's earned by single skater, and her legendary impact on the sport. :-)))))))!

[sw10025a]

You're right. Where's Laetitia Hubert when you need her? :-)

[GinnySmith]

ITA with everyone's comments. I particularily wish her happiness in her personal (family) life. I hope she meets and marries a wonderful guy and has kids. Also, I wish her success in whatever career she chooses. As someone mentioned, she is over-qualified to be president, and too honest! It's terrible to say, but she is too good of a person to be president!!! I don't want to see her lower herself and her standards. She strikes me as being a great mentor, role model and teacher. If she doesn't pursue some career outside of skating, I would love to see he become a coach/choreographer. She could do so much for aspiring skaters. Anyway, whatever she does, I wish her a full and happy life, as I'm sure we all do.

[MKfan]

From what I have read and Michelle has indicated...it doesn't seem that she will want to turn pro immediatly after 2002. Some reasons I have thought this: 1)After losing Worlds to Maria last year, she said she looked up to Maria and Maria will be her role model in the years to come....Michelle mentioned something like..if she can do it, I can do it. 2)Michelle mentioned she didn't want to be a 25 year old college freshman...meaning after she was done with skating(eligible or pro)that she didn't want to start then(or the way I understood). 3)She enjoys competing, getting nervous, ect.... IMO, I think it would be more then cool if she got a medal(regardless of what color) at the 2006 Olympics...it will show her longevity in the sport...even through to 2002 is some impressive longevity(1994-2002...that is 8 long years...8 National championships and World Championships...3 Olympics(two competing in))

[GinnySmith]

Like you, I would like to see Michelle retain her amature status. As far as I can tell, there is absolutely no benefit in her turning pro. It would be soooo cool if she didn't follow the pack on this one.

[Karin]

After winning the 2002 Olympic gold medal...MK would probably go to the Worlds and win the gold there...then???... Commentate!!! Can you imagine hearing her talk on ABC???...

[K8lyn]

If wins gold in SLC: skips worlds, takes a long vaca, mega-endorsements & tv specials, tours with COI, buys a house, applies to law school If doesn't win gold: Maintains eligibility on pro-am circuit until 2004 -she'll be 25 who knows? Still applies to law school and continues touring, also tries commentating, a little acting

[annabelle]

i think im the only one who would love to see michelle turn pro after 2002. personally i think skaters look the happiest and most content when they are pros. kurt, brian,kristi, even tara look like they are having a blast out there...everything isn't so intense. pro is when you can do other things than skate...

[Karin]

I guess we'll just wait and see...

[mano]

I hope to see Michelle continue to skate eligible past 2006. Just can't picture a year without Michelle turning in masterpiece after masterpiece that happens to have 7 triples in it too. Consider me spoiled by Michelle in that area. H*ck, consider me spoiled by Michelle period.

[jahowes]

I definitely think that if Michelle wins the gold in SLC that she will definitely go to worlds as well (even if she is going to turn pro soon after). Michelle always seems the type to do the right thing (and she usually seems to be pretty careful about keeping the USFSA and ISU happy) so I definitely think she'd stay for worlds. That's just her way. I agree with the rest of you though - I'd love to see her stick around for a few more years after that! Question: If she does go pro after SLC - will she stick with Champions on Ice or go to SOI for the tour?????

[sw10025]

Annabelle, I agree that many of the skaters are much happier after they've gone pro, but bear in mind two things: (1) Michelle is not your average skater, even your average top notch skater, and she's said dozens of times that she enjoys competition for the sake of competition; (2) Brian Boitano regretted going pro after the Calgary Olympics, and I'm sorry he did too, because I think he might have been able to blow away the competition in '92 (too injured in '94). I think Michelle will definitely go to 2002 worlds, even if she wins gold at the Olympics. I don't think she will make any hasty decisions about her eligibility in light of Boitano's regrets (they're good friends, so I'm sure its come up), and that she would take each year one at a time and carefully reevaluate whether she was still healthy, happy and competing for the right reasons. 2006 Olympics would be great, but it would not be her primary focus. I too, hope she finds a husband, maybe some nice pre-med student, and has a large family. (Dare I speak it, maybe even a couple of skaters to keep the Kwan skating dynasty going?) :-)

[Rene]

As much as I would LOVE MK to go to 2006 olys, I was wondering what the judges would think about that. I know that alot of skaters(MB for example) have stayed around for many years, but she wasn't as successful and scrutinized as Michelle has been for SO MANY YEARS. She will have been the top American or international draw 11 years by 2006. That's alot of programs, titles and fluff pieces(not that I would care, mind you). Let's say she wins 2002, then competes another 4 years. Don't you think international judges especially ,would resent her winning almost everything for so long thinking that she's had her time? I'm not saying I would feel this way, but I was wondering how some judges, and others may feel. What do you think?