Name of AAPI Figure	Michelle Kwan
What is the person’s Asian heritage or ethnicity?	Cantonese
Area of Influence	Figure skating
Date of birth or time period	July 7th, 1980
How did this individual make a contribution to their field or to society/culture at large?	Michelle Kwan has won 5 world championships in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2003. She retired in 2006. She is thought of one of the greatest skaters because of her impressive artistry on the ice. Kwan also revived the move called the Charlotte Spiral which had not been used in years. One of her trademark moves is a Y-spin (a spin while shaped like a Y) with both feet on the ground in succession.
Why did you choose this person? What about their story speaks to you?	I am very impressed by her perseverance and longevity in the face of failure. It’s interesting that Michelle Kwan started skating at age 5. Winning 5 figure skating championships not only shows dedication, but shows how much her love for figure skating.
What surprised you as you were learning about this person?	It surprised me that she won 5 world championships. It was also surprising that she started skating at age 5.
Submitted by	Ryan Zhang
Age	12
City, State	Lexington, Massachusetts