International Skating Union (ISU) allows Evgeny Plushenko to compete again in ISU sanctioned competitions including the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. [ISU]
Adam Rippon (at right) leaves Ghislain Briand in Toronto to train with Jason Dungjen at the Detroit Skating Club. [US Figure Skating]
Ashley Wagner leaves Priscilla Hill in Delaware to train with John Nicks in California. [icenetwork]
Canada's national figure skating team members Shawn Sawyer, Joey Russell, Adam Johnson and Diane Szmiett announce retirement from amateur skating. [montrealgazette]
On Tuesday, October 12, the Women's Sports Foundation (WSF) held its 31st Annual Salute to Women in Sports at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in NYC. Figure skating luminaries Michelle Kwan (at right), Yu-Na Kim and Sarah Hughes attended the event, which celebrates the contributions that WSF has made to young girls and women worldwide.
I got to catch up with Michelle on the red carpet and let me tell you, she is one of the most thoughtful and poised people I've ever met. She commands your attention without screaming, "Look at me! Look at me!" and I could totally see her as an ambassador to some country where we desperately need a good representative. Or maybe heading up a committee in the United Nations -- Basically something where she can use her knowledge and personality to bridge the world divide. In the interview above, Michelle talks about aiming high and what that really means, the impact that tennis legend Billie Jean King (founder of WSF) has had on women everywhere and a very special award that Michelle received from Billie Jean.
Last Tuesday, the Women’s Sports Foundation, an organization founded by tennis legend Billie Jean King, hosted its 31st Annual Salute to Women in Sports gala at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in NYC. Where else can you see boxer Laila Ali hobnob with Michelle Kwan? How about Yu-Na Kim chatting with Olympic sailor Anna Tunnicliffe (photo below), or Sarah Hughes (at right) laughing it up with golfer Annika Sorenstam?
This is an opportunity for these women athletes, as well as Allison Baver (speedskating), Gretchen Bleiler (showboarding), Swin Cash (basketball), Julie Chu and Hilary Knight (ice hockey), Allyson Felix (track and field), Jennie Finch (softball), Kelly Kulick (bowling) Katie O'Donnell (field hockey), and so many more, to recognize and honor female athletes who, through their accomplishments, have been inspiring role models for girls and women everywhere. As I watched the athletes come down the red carpet, I kept thinking one thing -- They are truly the epitome of the role model for young women. They're smart, beautiful inside and outside, athletic and most importantly, confident in who they are. I loved the event -- it may be the best evening I ever had covering a story!
For all you figure skating fans out there, Yu-Na Kim won Sportswoman of the Year and she looked the picture of elegance that evening. Click here to watch my interview with Yu-Na and here for my chat with Michelle Kwan.
And finally, as part of the celebration, Women’s Sports Foundation CEO Kathryn Olson, announced that the foundation had been chosen as the “Official Charity of espnW,” the soon-to-be-launched digital arm of ESPN that will serve, inform and inspire the female athlete and fan. Great news -- There isn't enough television coverage on women's sports so going digital may just be the answer. I can't wait for its debut!
On Tuesday evening, I caught up with Michelle Kwan at the Women's Sports Foundation's 31st Annual Salute to Women in Sports. Yu-Na Kim was also in attendance to support the organization as well as to receive the Sportswoman of the Year award. Michelle is the most decorated figure skater in US history, and I often wondered where she found the motivation to go for the fifth World title or ninth US championship or her second (and third but she had to withdraw due to injuries) Olympics. Yu-Na is in kind of a similar place because at the ripe young age of 20, she has won every competition out there, including the Olympics, and plans to compete at the 2011 World Championships. Do you think she gets up some mornings and thinks, "Why am I continuing to train? When can I get up, eat donuts and watch TiVo all day?" So here is Michelle dispensing a little advice to Yu-Na, who has often credited Michelle with giving her the inspiration to be the best. (Photo below, Michelle Kwan and Yu-Na Kim attend the Women's Sports Foundation's 31st Annual Salute to Women in Sports)
Last night, Yu-Na Kim (김연아) attended the 31st Annual Salute to Women in Sports which was held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. This is an event hosted by the Women's Sports Foundation, an organization founded by legendary tennis great Billie Jean King to help and inspire young girls everywhere to reach their dreams. In all, more than 60 world-class athletes from track and field to golf to swimming to snowboarding -- you name the sport, the crème de la crème were there -- came together under one roof to celebrate women's accomplishments and contributions to sports.
Figure skating was well represented by Yu-Na Kim, Michelle Kwan and Sarah Hughes. Interestingly, Michelle is a past recipient of a Women's Sports Foundation scholarship so this organization is near and dear to her heart. Above is my conversation with Yu-Na and we talk about her recent move to Los Angeles from Toronto, her coaching change from Brian Orser to Peter Oppegard, and her idol Michelle Kwan. Yu-Na was also nominated for Sportswoman of the Year and she won later in the evening! My interviews with Michelle and Sarah are coming up soon. (Photo below, Yu-Na Kim and Michelle Kwan at the Women's Sports Foundation gala. Also check out Universal Sports' photo gallery from the evening.)
Johnny Weir announces he will skip 2011-2012 competitive season to focus on professional career. [Johnny Weir Official Site]
Michelle Kwan: role model for the ages. [Chicago Tribune]
