Michelle Kwan announced her withdrawal from the Olympics

"Kwan exits like a champion." - San Jose Mercury

"Michelle Kwan gave up the long gold-medal chase and surrended her position to the teenager who earned it last month in St. Louis, Emily Hughes." - New York Times

A nine-time United States champion and five-time world titlist, Kwan never owns an Olympic gold. And she is not going to compete for one. People like us, ever suffered from any kind of groin injury, were pretty sure that the withdrawal was coming when she cut short of her practice, and cited a sore groin. When I heard she said: "Dropping out, it's not something I want to do, but I have to listen to what my feelings are." When she tried to hold back her tear, my heart went with her. Injury is part of life for athlete, but it is so hard to take when it happens so close to the final stage.

Anyone knows what could have hurt her, after proved she was healthy enough to compete in the Olympics with a good enough petition? A long plane ride? The four hours standing in the opening ceremony? Either one could be the reason that killed her hope to compete. Many star athletes in Taiwan do not go to the opening ceremony, at least I skipped several in my career. Have you ever thought about how carefully athletes are keeping their fine physical and mental conditions for the GAME? At this stage of competition, athletes are doing whatever possible to make sure their body conditions are at their prime. There are so many things people can write about Olympics, how fine the material has improved for luge, how training facility helped the ice skating, or skiing, etc, but Michelle Kwan is the that person dominated the headline, at least the US headline, for the past three days. It is for us to think deep about this. While IOC are trying to get more teenagers and woman into the games by introducing more events, etc, looks what touches Americanss hearts! A young lady who devoting her life to the sports she loves had to call it a quit, her tears eventually dropped

Now, NBC is losing its biggest star for the Olympics, and with back up stars, Bode Miller finished only 5th, Ohno slipped in the final turn of his race, the story is running thin. Yet, Joey Cheek won 500 meter speed skating, after Chad Hedrick won the first gold in 5,000 meters. This is why US teams dare to call themselves the best US team. The game will go on, the Champagne and tear will continue to flow, but for American, this Olympics will go down as the Olympics that Michelle Kwan failed to compete.

Among all the news around the Olympics, Michelle Kwan is the focus. She represented the spirit that many people fail to recognize. If you are good, you are going to get the ultimate respect, no matter you win or not. I strongly doubt whether Michelle will be standing on the Olympics podium again. But, she left a mark that no one could erase. Her way of exit showed what the true sportsmanship was all about. I told my wife before the Olympics: "Keep your eyes on Cohen, even your heart might be on Kwan." Now, Kwan left Turin, Sasha Cohen is staying. Cohen is going to be one of the favorite skaters among all.