Kwan reflects upon preparation, appreciation

More than 300 people were at the Show Me Center on Thursday night to hear former skating champion Michelle Kwan deliver her thoughts about "Aspiring to Greatness: What it Takes to Win."

"I'm curious about her message of what it takes to succeed," said Rui Li, a sophomore at Southeast Missouri State University from Beijing, China, before Kwan's appearance. "I think it will relate to her success as a skater and to what she does now."

Tim Rademaker, a retired physical education instructor at Southeast, had similar expectations.

"I think she's going to be great," Rademaker said. "Her message about what it takes to win interests me as a former coach and instructor."

Kwan, who lives in Washington, D.C., is a senior adviser for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs in the U.S. State Department. She told the audience during her skating career people would ask about her secret to success.

"At the time, I didn't have time to ponder the meaning of that," Kwan said. "Now that my skating career is over, I've been able to reflect more and examine things that helped me compete and win."

Kwan said a key to winning in whatever path a person chooses is preparation.

"Those six minutes you see in a skating routine are the product of endless hours of practice," she said. "You have to show up prepared no matter what it is you do or are trying to do."

Champion figure skater Michele Kwan speaks during a press conference Wednesday, March 6, at the Show Me Center. Kwan is at Southeast Missouri State University to give a presentation titled "Aspiring to Greatness: What It Takes to Win," as part of the University Speakers Series. The most decorated figure slater in U.S. history with two Olympic medals, five World championships and nine U.S. championsips. Kwan has a masters degree in international relations and now works for the U.S. State Department as a senior adviser for public diplomacy and public affairs. (Adam Vogler)

Kwan emphasized that with preparation, a person is better prepared to overcome distractions in their chosen field.

"There are moments for all of us when our main adversary is distraction," she said. "It's a common mistake that I've made myself. I would think too much about an opponent or the routine I was working on. I was able to overcome that by developing a mental discipline to stay focused."

Setting high standards and working hard also was important to Kwan, but she said being able to overcome disappointments in life was necessary for success.

"In everything you do there is bound to be disappointments," she said. "In skating, you fall a lot. But how you recover is what matters. Don't be afraid to fall or it will inhibit you from trying to begin with."

Kwan mentioned that at times, when she was sore from training and not practicing well, receiving good advice was important for her to recover and focus on winning.

"My father gave me the advice of appreciation," she said. "To appreciate my family and friends more. His advice helped me put skating in a different perspective. I learned to love it again."

Kwan also advised people to prepare for the new and not linger in the old.

"Something new can be incredible," she said. "Growing up, all I knew was competing and training. I thought that would be my entire life story when I turned 30. But now I'm 32 and working in the State Department, so trying to do something new in your life is not anything to be afraid of."

The Southeast Missourian was a sponsor of the event.

This was the fifth installment of the 2012-2013 University Speakers Series. The final speaker in the series will be animal and nature conservationist Jeff Corwin on April 10.

klewis@semissourian.com

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