Kwan has won five World Championships (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2003), the most by anyone in the ladies' division since Carol Heiss (1956 - 1960) with whom she is tied for the most wins by an American. She has won nine United States National Championships (1996, 1998-2005), tying the record for most set by Maribel Vinson-Owen (1928 - 1933, 1935 - 1937). She has also won a silver in the 1998 Nagano Olympics and a bronze in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Among her many accolades, Michelle received the prestigious Sullivan Award in 2001. Kwan has received a combined total of 54 6.0s from her Nationals and Worlds competitions throughout the years.
Born in Torrance, California, Kwan is the third child of Chinese immigrants. She was named after the song from the Beatles called "Michelle". At the age of five her love for figure skating began as she followed after her two older siblings (one who played ice hockey, Ron, and one who figure skated, Karen) onto the ice. Kwan's family moved to Lake Arrowhead, California, in 1991 to intensify her training with Frank Carroll, a leading figure skating coach. At the age of 12 in 1992 Kwan passed a test to become a senior level figure skater despite the disapproval of her coach. In 1993 Kwan finished sixth at her first senior U.S. championships, and later that year she won the 1994 World Junior title.
