Michelle Kwan: From Olympic Figure Skater to Diplomat

When former Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan retired from the sport, she wondered how she'd find a new career that would provide the same satisfaction, phenomenal success, and rousing cheers that she received on the ice.

"For 21 years, I dedicated myself to one thing only...figure skating. How am I going to find something that I love as much? You can't find a job that when they say your name or when you walk into the office...applause, applause, applause," she joked.

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But Kwan did find a new job as a U.S. diplomat. Not only is she embracing this new role, she's using the many lessons she learned on the ice to help guide her to success.

Kwan made it to her first Olympic event in 1998, where she won silver, and later on won bronze at the 2002 Olympic Games. She eventually became the most decorated figure skater in the world after winning 43 titles. "I lived, breathed, and ate just the Olympics. I mean, I had a sticker above my bed. It was the first thing I saw in the morning, it was the last thing that I saw when I went to bed. And to finally make the Olympic team was just a remarkable feeling."

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Kwan retired from competitive skating in 2006, opting to focus on her education. She went on to earn a master's degree from Tufts' Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Her schooling and world travels certainly bolster her job as a diplomat. Kwan currently works for the U.S. State Department in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, where she helps find ways for exchanges in the arts, music, education, culture and, of course, sports.

When Kwan speaks with youth in her current job, she said she uses figure skating to break the ice. "One of things that I've learned is that you make very powerful connections to be able to talk with 15 Pakistani field hockey girls, being able to share my story, and kind of light up their eyes," she said. "Knowing that they're empowered, they're motivated, inspired, just to know that you're making a difference, is really remarkable for me. That's what I hope to do in my life, to make a difference. Being able to do what you want, to be passionate and to follow your heart, and I think that's my kind of view of success."

Kwan's success also has much to do with her fighting spirit and focus. "Literally falling on the ice and having to pick yourself up in front of thousands of people is not an easy thing to do. The thing that you learn is to pick yourself back up, to learn from your mistakes. The important thing is to always know what you're aiming for...one step in front of the other."

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