jeudi 1 février 2018
Olympian Michelle Kwan Opens Up About the Sacrifices Her "Incredible Mom" Made For Her
Figure skater Michelle Kwan has gone down in history as one of America's Olympic sweethearts. With two Olympic medals under her belt and arguably one of the most graceful skating styles we've ever seen, it's hard to forget all the heartfelt emotions this iconic athlete brought to us when she was competing in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Today, Michelle is getting ready for the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics in a different way. She'll be watching from the sidelines, cheering on Team USA and encouraging every figure skater out there representing our country. POPSUGAR caught up with Michelle to talk about partnering up with Procter & Gamble for the #LoveOverBias campaign, which celebrates all the dedicated moms out there who are the backbones of Olympic athletes.
The "Thank You, Mom" ad in conjunction with this campaign shows the struggles that many athletes overcome, and how some must overcome an overwhelming amount of bias in order to succeed. (Just try not to shed a tear when you watch it.)
"It really hits home for me because of my incredible mom," Michelle told POPSUGAR. "When I saw [the ad] for the first time, I really choked up because I can really relate to it." The adversity and struggles her mother and her family have gone through - and the sacrifices they've made - are the reason Michelle was able to be so successful in her career. Without them, we wouldn't have the figure skating icon we know and love today.
Michelle admits that she herself chokes up when she watches the video. "My mom was a huge influence for me and was supporting me when we could barely make ends meet," she shared. She did this so that Michelle could have "this incredible opportunity to participate in sports and do what I love." Her mom believed in her more than anyone else, and that's something Michelle says many, many athletes can relate to. "This is their story."
She recalls the early mornings when her alarm would go off at 4 a.m. Her mom would take her to the ice skating rink at 5 a.m. to skate for a few hours before school, and then she would take her back to the rink again after school. After that, she would make dinner for her and get her to bed, only to stay up and "make my costumes in the wee hours" of the night. Michelle also said her mom dealt with "the stresses of being able to pay the bills" and traveled with her everywhere, no matter where in the world she had to go.
When people ask Michelle what kind of sacrifices she made to be an Olympic athlete she responds, "I didn't make sacrifices. I made choices in order to be the best I can be. But parents on the other hand - moms - are the ones behind us, supporting athletes and giving encouraging words."
So as you're watching the Winter Olympics this year, keep in mind all the hard work and dedication all the mothers put in so that their children could compete. Tune in on Feb. 9 to watch your favorite athletes.
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