Any other day I’d be like “so what,” but today is Heat Wave Watch Day, and Michelle Kwan’s 30th birthday provides yet another cheap and easy way to cool off via the power of thought because in my simpleton’s mind, Michelle Kwan only exists on ice. I was shocked to read that she was 30 as I am apparently not willing to believe that darling figure skating heroes go through the regular steps of life. Steps are for plebes! Darling figure skaters just glide around and around in circles and end up where they started and nothing ever changes until they are kindly asked to participate in Dancing With the Stars. Kate Ward provides some useful perspective: “I actually thought she was older, honestly…since she’s been in, like, 60 Olympics.”
So it’s settled. A much more reasonable PopWatcher than me thinks that Michelle Kwan should be at least 240 years old. Vote below, while cursing us under your breath because you know this was only a cheap ploy to wedge the beloved PopWatch on Ice logo onto the main page for a few hours, using a toe pick.
Read more: Yesterday’s Lunchtime Poll: Did Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s fence get lucky?
Annie on Twitter: @EWAnnieBarrett
for anyone that watches so you think you can dance…doesn’t alex wong look like he could be michelle kwon’s little brother?? hmm…
agreed!
racist?
Not racist at all. I’m Chinese and I thought that Alex looks like a male version of Michelle Kwan as well. Alex Freakin’ Wong!
No not at all – they have the same sweetness in their faces and their eyes almost smile. Watch SYTYCD and look at Alex…they look like siblings.
oh, ok.
If you watch the special SYTYCD segments on Hulu, check out the costume designer who, to me, looks like Michelle Kwan’s twin.
OMG — I posted the same thing a couple of weeks ago…they have the same face
I still say she got robbed by the judges giving Tara Lapinski the gold. Grrrrrrrr……..
I so totally agree with you. I still think that is one of the biggest sport injustices ever.
Ugghh…I know. Kwan’s skating routine was much better and more artistic. And the headlines that followed that? (ex: “American Beats Kwan”) Absolutely infuriating to the nth degree!
Sadly, if I remember correctly, Michelle made errors in the Olympics that couldn’t be overlooked.
I don’t think it can be said that she got robbed enough! and will you’re probably thinking of 2002.
And to think that she was just a baby when Nancy and I was going through our drama. Happy Birthday Michelle. Just don’t age bad like I did.
XOXO
Tonya
The memory fades early too, huh? Wasn’t she an alternate on the Olympic team that year?
IIRC, Michelle earned the second spot on the team, but the USOC named Nancy to the team after the kneecapping incident. Everybody figured that since Michelle was so young, she had plenty of time to go back and go for the gold medal.
Your comments are so inappropriate Tonya. You should not be allowed to comment on anything that has to do with any sport, especially ice skating. Your drama??? Nice way to put that you seriously injured another skater and ruined another persons dreams. Go back to your trailer.
Yes, Ginger, I’m sure that was the real Tonya.
Hmmm, I thought we were the same age. Makes me feel young to know she’s three years younger than I am. HA!
Makes me feel young to think that all this time has passed and she’s only 30.
This makes me irrationally sad. I somehow will always see her as that teen sensation too. And that she’d always be ready for a comeback to finally win that gold medal.
i don’t know why but it makes me feel old that she is turning 30, even though i am 20, i feel old because i thought she was a lot older than 30!
This makes me feel young because I thought she was way younger than I am, but it’ll be another month before I turn 30
I remember when she was just 13 or so and actually would’ve made the Olympics — except the spot was given to Nancy Kerrigan. It really sucks that Tonya Harding was allowed to compete, and Michelle wasn’t. It’s a real shame that such a great skater never won Olympic Gold.
Tanya was awful. The media made it seem it was going to be this great ice skating competition between Tanya and Nancy. How wrong they were. Oksana came out of no where and rightfully won the gold.
I’m probably the only one, but I was never a big Michelle Kwan fan. I usually cheered for whoever else was skating against her.
I love Michelle and think she will be remembered as the greatest U.S. Ladies Figure Skater of all time.
She is a first rate, class act.
Happy Birthday Michelle.
Nope Michelle was a class act, but she wasn’t the greates US LAdies Figure Skater. You’ve forgotten Dorothy Hamill. Dorothy, in a much shorter period of time, had a huge influence in how the American public viewed skating. Michelle didn’t.
Though I agree that Dorothy Hamill is had a HUGE influence on the American Public it wasn’t merely just her skating….it was because of her Wedge Hairstyle! Michelle’s influence was and always will be with her LONGEVITY in the sport and that ICONIC INSIDE EDGE SPIRAL! Michelle was able to qualify for FOUR Olympic Teams (94-2006) and competed in 12 World Championships and in 11 of those Worlds never placed lower than 4th! SHE’s THE GREATEST!
Incredible talent, a real beauty and endless class. One of a kind.
Michelle Kwan is a class act, a wonderful person, and a true role model for children every where. In her 30 years, she has achieved 2 Olympic medals, 5 World Figure Skating Championships, 9 United States Figure Skating titles, a bachelor’s degree in international studies from the University of Denver, half-way through a Master’s degree at Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and is a public diplomacy envoy for the State Department. Amazing!
I will always remember the first time I saw her – in the 1992 Nationals – with her ponytail and bushy eyebrows and beautiful skating. I remember being so upset that they didn’t let her compete in the Olympics. She’s the greatest!
She is the Kween of the World, and I will love her forever.