2/12/06 press conference transcript

[aethera]

Here's another transcript, this one from today's conference with MK. Thanks for uploading the clip, Heather. You're welcome to re-post this on websites or other forums, but I ask that you give me credit, and leave a comment here telling me what you did. Thanks.

Throughout the conference, MK tended to trail off a lot, totally understandably. If something doesn't make sense as transcribed, let me know and I'll see if I can convey the gist of what was meant.

Off to mope.

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Moderator: Ladies and gentlemen, with us now is nine-time U.S. national champion and five-time world champion Michelle Kwan. Michelle, if you could, I know you have some opening thoughts you'd like to share with the group.

Michelle Kwan: (inaudible; pulls microphone closer) I wish I was here in better circumstances. When I first put in my petition, I said that I believed that I'd be a hundred percent by the time the Olympics came around. After yesterday, going on the ice, feeling stiff, and doing a triple flip and pulling my groin again it just--(shakes head) I don't think that I can be a hundred percent and I respect the Olympics too much to compete and (i.e. when) I don't feel that I can be at my best.

M: Michelle, thanks. We'll go ahead and take questions now. Our first question is going to be from Andrea Joyce with NBC. Andrea?

AJ: Michelle, it's been about twenty-four hours since you fell at practice. Can you take us through step-by-step what's happened since then?

MK: Well, yesterday morning I woke up really stiff and practice was at 11:20. I tried to get to the rink pretty early, do my usual--jump rope, stretching, walk through all my programs. Got on the ice, twenty minutes into the practice I still felt really stiff and not at ease on the ice. I did only about three jumps on the ice and that was triple toe, and then I tried the triple flip and when I flipped out of it I knew I had done something, but...I--then I attempted it again, and I fell on it. And I tried to skate it off, but I ended up getting off the ice and just felt--you know, I didn't--at the time, you know, I don't, I didn't feel like I did something immediately, but...came straight from practice to here, just felt stiff and uncomfortable, and after that I went back to the village, got some physio, iced my groin area, got some stem (?), ultrasound. And then later on in the afternoon I went to see my parents and had dinner with them, and went back to the village and by eleven, twelve o'clock I just--didn't feel right, I didn't feel good, so I made a few phone calls and talked to the doctor--it was like, 2:15 in the morning, and just--I evaluated on my body, and just--had to make a decision. It's one of the toughest decisions I've had to make but I know it's the right one.

M: Thank you. Our next question will be Christine Brennan. Christine, if you could stand up so the runners can find you with the microphone, please. Thank you.

Christine Brennan: Michelle, hi. Sorry to hear about this. Couple questions: In hindsight, would it have been better if maybe you had not gone to the Opening Ceremonies or had not gone to the practice yesterday? And, to follow up, have you given any thought to what happens next in your career? Thanks.

MK: Well, I was just going about my business, enjoying the whole Olympic experience, and that's what--the Olympic Games is, isn't it an amazing thing; it's an honor to represent your country. And I didn't think twice about not going to the Opening Ceremonies or not going to practice because, you know, that's--I have to get my legs under me, and I have to get, you know, business as normal, as usual, and when I was stiff, I just--it's the Olympics; you gotta push, so...unfortunately, it happened, and... (small shrug) ...What's that? (sound from the audience, presumably the follow-up question again) I can't even think past right now, being at the moment and just being here.

M: Next question is Amy Shipley, right here, please.

Amy Shipley: Michelle, when you--when you went through the day yesterday, is the injury--did it grow increasingly worse--um, you know, can you tell us a little more about that--were you unable to sleep, is that why you made the call so late? And, finally, as you go through this, did the doctor--when the doctor recommended, as he told us, that you should not continue, did you expect to hear that, did you kind of know that that's what he was gonna say, or was that kind of a shock, and did you have to, you know, let that sink in?

MK: Well, at practice, you know, I--it's always tough at the first practice, at the Olympics, and just--try to get your feet under you, and when I did the triple flip it just didn't feel right, but immediately I didn't think "This is going to be bad" or "This is...", you know, "I can't skate after this." But after physio, after I iced it down, after treatment, later in the day it just got worse and worse and it didn't--it's not something that will just go away right now, so I don't think in my heart that I could be at my best, and I have to be honest, and I have to make a decision, and at 2:15 in the morning, that's when I was like, "I've gotta do something about it, I've gotta get checked out right away," and made phone calls and...I think when he evaluated my body, I just knew I was stiff, knew I--that I was in pain. You don't have to hear it from somebody else to say that you're in pain, so... (trails off)

M: Okay, our next question is going to be Helene Elliott, and then we're going to go to Mark Ziegler. Helene, if you'd stand up so the runner can find you, please.

HE: Michelle, so when the doctor say that he recommended that you withdraw, did you think to say, "Hey, what if I took another week, or took another few days?" or did you accept that, and also, will you stay here for the remainder of the Games, or go back home?

MK: Well, after I got evaluated, I think--I had to make a decision to withdraw from the team. I would love to compete in my third Olympics, but I love and respect the sport, and I think it's all about the United States bringing their best team to the Olympic Games. And I wouldn't want to be in the way of that.

M: Okay, Mark-- (murmurs in the audience, probably a reminder about the follow-up question)

MK: Um, I think the best thing for me is to go home and get better. I don't want to be a distraction here.

M: Okay, Mark Ziegler, and then we'll go to Jeremy Schapp. Mark, if you'd stand up, please. (long pause) Okay, looks like Mark has moved, so we're gonna go right over here to Jeremy Schapp, and then we're gonna go to Phil Hersh. Jeremy?

JS: Michelle, you did several interviews yesterday and put on a brave face [and] didn't mention any injury. Was this a new injury, or something previous that was aggravated?

MK: Well, when I left Los Angeles, I felt ready to compete. I had costumes, I had good practices. Yesterday, after practice, I just felt sore, felt stiff...I had obligations, I had interviews, and I...tried to go through them, and throughout the day, my groin just...(shakes head) did not feel good at all. This is not the same as when I had left--I mean, I was feeling fine, and coming over here, I was trying to stay positive, I knew that I didn't have a lot of practice under me, but I felt good, ready to go. Yeah.

M: Okay, Phil Hersh, and then we'll go to Joann Barnas. To Phil Hersh, right here in the front, please.

PH: Michelle, I know this is all very fresh. You're twenty-five now, you'll be twenty-nine four years from now; it's likely that you will finish your career without an Olympic gold medal. How much of a void will that be to you and to your--to the way you're looked at in the sport?

MK: Well, it's always been a dream, to win the Olympics. And it's always an honor to represent your country. And, I--(beginning to tear up; wipes eyes)...my parents are here; they arrived last night, and, you know, they always want me to be happy, and for their baby to win the gold and make my dreams come true, but I've learned it's not about the gold, and it's about the spirit of it, and about the sport itself, so...I have no regrets, I tried my hardest, and if I don't win the gold, it's okay. I've had a great career, I've been very lucky, and...you know, this is a sport. And it's beautiful.

M: Okay, Joann Barnas, right here in the front, please.

JB: Michelle, I'm going to follow a difficult question with another one. So, after--when you found out, did you walk around the village, I mean, I can imagine you didn't go right to sleep right away, can you just talk about the things that you were thinking about, and, perhaps, what time did you finally go to sleep last night?

MK: Well, after I saw the doctor around 2:15, I called my parents, told them my--I made decision, and they said that they would support me a hundred percent, no matter what, and that they're always proud of me. I don't think I actually *fell asleep* fell asleep (i.e. really fell asleep) so...it was just...kind of a tough, tough night.

M: Okay, Elliott Almond right here, and then we'll go over here. Elliott?

EA: Hi, thank you. Michelle, are--are you, as you're talking to us right now, in physical pain, or is it more just the emotions of what's transpired in the last twenty-four hours?

MK: It's physical pain that's keeping me from performing and skating, but it's also emotional as well, that I had to make a decision and it's a tough decision. Um, I...(looks at a loss for words, and decides she has nothing to add)

M: Okay, this'll be our last question right over here.

(question is inaudible--from the context, it must have been about Emily Hughes)

MK: The Olympics is an incredible experience. I know that she'll have an amazing time, and she'll make the country proud. I'm sure she's been working really hard, running through her programs, and she's ready.

M: Okay, thank you, everyone. (Journalists applaud as MK leaves.)

[Heather]

Thank you. I know that had to be a lot of work

[dec5]

Outstanding...

Thanks..