Olympics story by Gareth Bowman, Mon, 16 Jan 2006 18:48:00 GMT


ST. LOUIS – 16-year-old Michelle Kwan has been given the medical bye to compete for the US team in the Turin Olympics, but with conditions. This means that Emily Hughes, who is the 2002 gold medalist Sarah Hughes' sister, does not find a place on the figure skating team.

Kwan had suffered a groin injury and had petitioned to be included in the US team without having to compete in the U.S. Figure Skating national championships this weekend. Late on Saturday night her request was acceded to as the U.S. Figure Skating international committee voted 20-3 in favor of allowing her on the Olympics team provided she proves her ability to compete before a five-member monitoring committee by January 27.

"The object, of course, is to try and get the three athletes there who have the best chance of winning medals, and I'm sure the international committee took that into consideration," said Ron Hershberger, U.S. Figure Skating President. But more than this decision the mystery surrounding the whole episode made headlines and the deliberations behind the inclusion of Kwan are the focus at present. Committee chairman Bob Horen said that the discussions were "healthy."

He had words of praise for Emily Hughes though, "Emily is a wonderful athlete, she competed well. Michelle competed well at worlds last year," he said. "There aren't numbers I can compare there, there are relationships."

Kwan herself was confident of giving a good performance, "I started jumping on Friday, triple toe and some doubles, and had no problems. I have to say that I am my biggest critic. If I can't feel if I'll be ready, I will pull myself off the team," she said.

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