Early arrival

Kwan looks sharp in short program workout

Michelle Kwan stretches out before the start of Thursday's practice. AP

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Looking trim and fit, Michelle Kwan made it to the Olympics early this time.

The only American woman on hand for practice Thursday, Kwan was sharp in her short program workout, hitting all of her elements with ease. She was relaxed and in a jovial mood afterward, clearly happy to have made it to the Games in time for Friday's Opening ceremonies.

Four years ago, Kwan stayed home under doctor's orders to rest a stress fracture in her foot, missing the first few days of the Nagano Olympics. She went on to win a silver medal at those Games.

"It's so exciting," Kwan said. "At the team briefing, we got lots of nice clothing with USA 2002 on it. That's one of the biggest perks about making the team.

"Opening Ceremonies will be exciting. Sarah [Kawahara], who is my choreographer, choreographed the Opening Ceremonies and I've heard a lot about it. But she's being very secretive."

Kwan made no secret of her pleasure at being in the figure skating arena, where she won her third national title in 1999. "It looks so beautiful," she said to her father, Danny, who stood by the sideboards in place of a coach; Kwan split with coach Frank Carroll in October.

"I competed here for nationals not too long ago, and to walk in here, it's different. It has completely changed," added Kwan, 21, who has won five U.S. championships and four world titles. "It looks like a completely different arena.

"And the security, there must have been 70 checkpoints. People asked me a few months ago if I would feel safe at the Olympics. I feel really safe."

While Kwan spent the practice session alone on the ice, fellow American Olympians Sasha Cohen and Sarah Hughes were en route to Salt Lake City. All three women plan to march in the Opening Ceremonies, then leave to practice elsewhere. The women's event is Feb. 19 and Feb. 21.

Kwan was criticized for not staying in the athletes' village in Nagano, especially after Tara Lipinski, who spent nearly the entire 1998 Olympics in the village, beat Kwan for the gold medal. Kwan will be staying in the village, although she will occasionally stay at a local hotel, too.

"I was able to walk around the village to meet a lot of different, other athletes," she said, chuckling at the memory of walking into a gym and seeing a "guy who must have been, like 300 pounds, and he was lifting I don't know how much.

"I was thinking if I ever did that, what kind of athlete would I be?"

Certainly not a figure skater favored to win an Olympic gold medal.

 

Related information
Stories
WTC flag will be carried into Olympics Flag battle starts struggle over America's Games Speedskater Peterson named U.S. flag bearer Police blow up suspicious package in SLC Eight U.S. athletes picked to carry WTC flag SI's Brian Cazeneuve: Best guesses on who will light the cauldron Amid celebrations, security Utah ready for Olympics Unprecedented security force ready to protect SLC Torch arrives in Salt Lake City
Multimedia
Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.