Michelle Kwan elected to World Hall of Fame

Five-time world champion Michelle Kwan has been elected to the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame, officials of the sport shrine announced today.

Kwan, twice an Olympic medalist but never a champion, was the only person voted into the Hall of Fame, an honor that came in her first year of eligibility for enshrinement in the Colorado Springs, Colorado, attraction.

From 1995-2005, Kwan won an unprecedented 43 titles, including world women’s crowns in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2003. Kwan took the silver medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

Kwan took nine US titles, including eight in a row from 1998 through 2005, and in almost a century of US skating, no man or woman has won more US and world titles and Olympic medals than Kwan.

Kwan received 57 perfect 6.0 marks in major competitions, the most of any skater in history.

She received at least one 6.0 in each of her last five US meets, including 15 of a possible 18 6.0s at the 1998 US championships.

“Michelle continues to be a role model through her many contributions both on and off the ice,” said nominating committee chairman Larry Mondschein. “We join Michelle and her many admirers throughout the world in celebration of this great honor.”

Kwan was inducted into the US Figure Skating Hall of Fame in January.

Source AFP/Getty