Michelle Kwan excuses herself from Olympics

This is a wholly unpolitical post, but one that's full of admiration for Michelle Kwan, who just withdrew from the Olympics and any chance of getting a gold medal. Despite being a 9 time US champion and a 5 time world champion, it must kill to not get your ultimate dream.

The press conference she just gave was brave and classy, full of composure and integrity. She spoke about how important it was that the US fields a strong team, and that she "respects the Olympics too much to compete if I don't feel that I'm at my best." After receiving a pass onto the US team for Torino, she promised that she would pull out if she wasn't at 100% and then she kept her word.

She gave Emily Hughes plenty of time to get to Torino and to compete for the US. She was incredibly poised and yet clearly heartbroken, but mature and responsible. She went out and faced a media pack that was hungry, and she put them to shame with her eloquence.

I will miss her grace under fire, on ice, and her artistry as one of the most prominent Asian Americans this century. Here's to someone who defined figure skating in this country for over a decade.

I respect her so much because as a 25 year old, she has acquitted herself with more dignity than you could ever expect. She is a real trooper, and a true athlete. She has so much intelligence, I am sure she will rebound from this and continue to live a long and fulfilling life.