Michelle Kwan: Fields of Gold

Rebel Girls

Stories For Kids, Education For Kids, Kids & Family

4.5 • 7.2K Ratings

🗓️ 16 January 2024

⏱️ 14 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Michelle Kwan is a world-renowned figure skater who has redefined what it means to be a champion. Her grace and determination are brighter than any medal and she inspires young people everywhere to be true to themselves. This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls. It’s based on the book series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. This story was produced by Deborah Goldstein with sound design and mixing by Mumble Media. It was written by Gina Kaufmann and edited by Abby Sher. Fact-checking by Joe Rhatigan. Narration by Joy Smith. Original theme music was composed and performed by Elettra Bargiacchi. Joy Smith and Jes Wolfe were our executive producers. Thank you to the whole Rebel Girls team who make this podcast possible. Stay rebel!

Transcript

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0:00.0	Michelle Kwan had just turned 13 when she skated onto the ice in San Antonio, Texas for the Olympic qualifying competition.
0:17.0	More than 25,000 spectators were gathered at the Alamoedum to see what the fuss was about.
0:24.1	Wearing a pink skating dress with a matching scrunchy,
0:27.2	young Michelle entered the rink with a big already triumphant grin.
0:32.0	She struck a powerful pose and waited for her music cue.
0:38.3	As soon as the first chords kicked in, Michelle leapt, glided and spun, stunning the crowd with her incredible moves and smooth
0:45.6	landings.
0:47.6	She looked like a sparkling bird floating through the air and nailing six triple jumps.
0:55.2	After she finished her routine, the crowd erupted into cheers.
1:00.4	Some of the audience was so moved they threw roses onto the ice.
1:04.0	The near perfect scores rolled in
1:07.0	and Michelle became the youngest figure skater
1:09.5	in the U.S. Olympic Festival's history
1:12.0	to win the ladies singles gold medal.
1:16.3	She beamed with pride, imagining her life on the ice unfolding in front of her.
1:21.6	But could Michelle bring the same radiance to this sport year after year as a pressure
1:26.2	to win only grew? Or was winning more about the strength to carry on. I'm Joy Smith and this is Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls,
1:42.6	a fairy tale podcast about the real life rebel women who inspire us.
1:47.6	On this episode, Michelle Kwan,
1:50.2	the world-renowned figure skater who redefined what it means to be a champion.
1:55.0	Michelle Kwan was born in 1980 in Torrance, California, where her parents, immigrants from Hong Kong, ran a Chinese restaurant.
2:10.0	As the youngest of three siblings, Michelle was always trying to keep up with the big kids.
	...

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