"You might see me until 2006"

[Heather]

Aah! :) <A HREF=http://www.usfsa.org/uschamp2000/backstage/photos/kwan212b.mpg>http://www.usfsa.org/uschamp2000/backstage/photos/kwan212b.mpg</A>

[dpierce]

that is so great...I dont see after seeing that clip how anyone can ever doubt what she is doing. She is the most level headed disciplined person i have ever met. Just seeing that clip reinforced what a great person she is! GO MICHELLE

[GinnySmith]

AWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!! Wow! I'm deeply touched, extremely proud and Luv Michelle more than ever! Go Michelle--if you are still around in 2006, I will be there watching!!

[Googoo]

BRAVO! She also said "I might not turn professional...ever!" I can't say I am disappointed about that! She said "I might not have a happy smiling face all the time but no one is always smiling."

[galadrielle]

That's the heart of a champion! I really wish she would stay in it so long. I think it's not so unrealistic. After all, her body's petite and she skates for the love of it. And as for disappointments and ups and downs, she's been there and done that.

[michaeljosh]

i came by the video while browsing through the usfsa site a couple of hours back. its really nice to hear say that, imagine how many national and world titles that would be hope she wins more that sonia henie plus back to back olympic golds

[kwanette]

I could hardly hear it...it kept fading in and out.If you could print it...I know it is a lot to ask, I would be eternally thankful.

[Jayne]

"A lot of people think I will turn pro, but that's not where I want to be right now. This competition tells me where I want to be. I might not be a pro ever * you may see me in 2006! I love doing this. You may not see a happy, smiling face all the time, but no one is smiling all the time."

[littlepang]

when MK was saying " You mite see me until 2006 ".. and everybody laughed(Frank hysterically)... after that you can tell by her face that she WAS kinda serious.. And thru out the whole clip i was like "..awwwwwww......... MK...." then i got all glassy-eyed.... GO MK

[tteller]

The one thing that struck me after seeing the Nationals live is the PASSION these athletes have for what they do. Michelle's passion for her art is so amazing. As a fan, I've never felt so proud of her as the last year. As a dad, I hope my children find something/anything they are so passionate about. When my wife and I ate brunch with Sarah Hughes' grandmother and cousins, we discussed the PASSION that drives these elite skaters. Amazing stuff.

[virginia girl]

You can read some of her comments (including the "might stay till 2006" one) at this USFSA site: <A HREF=http://www.usfsa.org/uschamp2000/news/rink212c.html >http://www.usfsa.org/uschamp2000/news/rink212c.html </A> I was mighty relieved to read and hear her comments. She looked so grim on Friday and Saturday that I was worried that she was losing some of her desire. Sure sounds like it's still there!

[Beth2000]

Yes it sure does! I have been wondering about Michelle after watching the Nationals. She just seemed like there was alot resting on her shoulders and I felt so sorry for her. She looked like she needed a big hug. Okay, here goes that Mom thing again. I can't help it, but when you're a Mom and you see their faces you see happiness, sadness, and you also see when things are really bothering them. That was what I was seeing with Michelle. I am glad that she is wanting to up the ante and plus she wants to stick it out until 2006! She can do this y'all I just know she can! She is pretty darn special!:)

[GinnySmith]

I was so happy that Leslie gave Michelle that spontaneous hug! Michelle looked so vulnerable, almost teary eyed and it was as if Leslie was imparting that virtual hug that we all want to give Michelle. Thanks Leslie for doing what many of us here wanted to do! :-) !!

[mano]

Michelle never going PRO, I am so happy, happy, happy, happy!!! Yes, media may be tired of Michelle, but I never will.

[Cole50]

Yes, tears filled my eyes when I listened and watched the Mpeg of Michelle. WOW! I wonder if she'll ever know how many lives she has touched...she's certainly touched mine and at times it is impossible to explain what she means to me as a role model in life. I wrote this on spoilers after I first watched the Mpeg and the competition: She is such a strong, fierce competitor, she doesn't give up and she strives for perfection. Michelle may not always be perfect, but her attitude and charm make a champion inside and out! I love her for it! She is an inspiration to young and old people alike....she inspires me and brings smiles to my face, tears to my eyes! I just downloaded the 2006 Mpeg from USFSA online...my computer allowed me too and wow, what can you say about her. She's great and she deserves everything she's won thus far with even more coming in the future! Thanks Michelle! YOU are an inspiration...day in and day out, gold or silver, 6.0 or 5.7.

[eilaram]

That makes me feel so much better.

[april]

I thought that was nice too GinnySmith! I usually find Visser annoying but I was so glad she did that, lol! It looked like MK needed it.

[andycat]

She's such an inspirational person. As a skater and even more so as a class act.

[AYS]

I just love that clip...it's like a breath of fresh air to get *her* take on things after slogging through the trash on FSW, etc. in the aftermath of the competition.

[mano]

I also am glad that Leslie gave her that hug. I've never seen her do that...well the football players she interviews sometimes may not appreciate it too much, but gives them a chance to find out more about the hair from outerspace, heehee. Just kidding, that move suddenly made me appreciate her more. It's as if she knew Michelle needed it, knew what she just went through. Can anybody figure out what she said though? Anybody good at reading lips? Can somebody buy Barry Wilner a clue and try working under the pressure Michelle gets, sheesh. Charity my behind. What's worse is that it's his article that gets circulated the most, ick. BTW, Michelle really didn't want to let that gold medal go it seems. Notice how she still had it on during her press conference and how she didn't even change to something else like the other skaters did. I've never seen her do that before. It was a hard fought win. Here's Mike Penner's article from LA Times: <A HREF=http://www.latimes.com/sports/times/20000213/t000014188.html >http://www.latimes.com/sports/times/20000213/t000014188.html </A>

[SK8fan2]

I loved this mpg clip! And ITA with everyone who has said that it's a relief to hear Michelle say these things. As I watched her LP, I was thinking how absolutely UNhappy she looked. I was truly worried about Michelle and how she may not be taking very good care of herself right now. I was also afraid that soon after Worlds we'd be hearing an announcement that MK was going to pursue school full time. This makes me feel so much better!! MK may not be outwardly happy all the time, but she IS still happy skating competitively and she IS still planning to compete in 2002. Dick Button made such a good point when he said something to the effect that we've come to expect such perfection every time from Michelle, we forget that she is ALLOWED to have a bad day or a bad competition. She's human! And now Michelle, herself, assures us that even though she may not be smiling all the time, she is truly happy where she is. I am SOOOOOO relieved. MICHELLE, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

[Rene]

I'm not going to make fun of Lesly Visser's hair anymore. When I was watching the interview I couldn't concentrate because it looked like Michelle had tears in her eyes. When Leslie hugged her, I felt so much better.

[Shallah]

Also there is another mpg video of Michelle & Frank <a href=http://www.usfsa.org/uschamp2000/backstage/photos/kwan212a.mpg>here</a>

[Rene]

The sound on mine always fades in and out. What did they say?

[daisyisme]

I think that's great that michelle wants to keep going as amatur. She is so strong, one tough cookie:) But I hope people dont get mad when I say that I was kinda hoping that she would turn Pro after the olympics because Im so tired of hearing how great Tara is. I totally think she should have not won that medal, I dont think that she deserved it and Im tired of hearing about her. She's a sell out I think that she wasnt in for the medal or the success, I think she was in it for the money. I just think having Michelle as a Pro would put miss genie back in her bottle where she belongs.

[SJB]

mano, (and please everyone, I apologize for the words I'm about to use) Wilner is just another media whore. He turns anything into the most "exciting" possible story, rather than performing the reporter's traditional job of learning the facts and printing them, without editorializing. Ignore him, he has no credibiltyleft, if indeed he ever had any. I am sorry to say that I hold the above opinion about almost all journalists and news media in general. I apologize again for my choice of language--Jenny and Heather, please delete it if you think it's inappropriate.

[Valerie]

What an incredibly remarkable, brace and courageous young woman!

[maileng]

Daisyisme, ITA with you.

[kwanluv]

I think if everyone debating Michelle's future and ability on this forum would see this clip, they would all leave a sigh of relief and re-affirm why we all came to love her in the first place. Very touching clip :)

[Karin]

She might never go pro??? Hee hee...there's what sw wants to hear right???!!! AND hee hee hee hee hee hee about how wonderful she is!!!...she said you might not always see a smile bla bla bla...hee hee :-)

[kwanette]

OK, I won't make fun of Lesley's hair..or her eyebrows...either. I loved the hug, too.

[mano]

No need to apologize. ITA. Next time just use the garden tool version. We'll get what you mean by it ;o) Okay, I'm with Rene and Kwanette, I too shall not say anything about Leslie's hair anymore...I got my last one in on the previous post, and that's it. ;o)

[Rene]

remember, you have NO ROOM TO TALK. Robert Smith??????

[mano]

At least I dressed up appropriately with the hair (all black). Leslie is doing Goth hair in suits on National TV...hmmmnnn mayhap I should go back to the spiky hair, I'll be famous!!!

[littleone4eva]

I missed the post-interview. What did she say to the ladies?

[iceangelic]

I am not going to blame TARA for anything. I am going to blame the judges for awarding her the gold medal and her agent for improperly advising her career. Although I dont like TARA, I do like her 'competitive' spirit alot. She never gives up.

[mano]

How the h*ck did Tara get in here. Methinks you be in the wrong topic or you just want to start something. Tara won the Olys fairly. Michelle would say the same thing. Get over it.

[Lara F]

I think this time iceangelic is *actually* responding to a previous post and not bringing it up, though it'd have best be left alone. So let's get back to the subject of this thread, shall we? I'm very happy to hear this from Michelle, especially considering the NY Times article...but it won't keep me from being concerned until Worlds! Hopefully there she can put every last doubt away. :-)

[Icare]

I think she found new strength in herself.