Skater Kwan To Defend Her Title

With no Tara Lipinski and no Nicole Bobek to push her, Michelle Kwan has gotten her inspiration from within as she seeks a third U.S. Figure Skating Championships title.

Kwan, also a two-time world champion and Olympic silver medalist, is -- by far -- the most accomplished women's skater in the world. While she might get a push from several Russians at next month's world championships, there isn't anyone in this week's field likely to challenge the 18-year-old star.

There might have been if Olympic champion Lipinski hadn't turned pro shortly after the Nagano Games or if Bobek, the 1995 U.S. champion, were healthy.

Instead, Kwan appears to have something akin to a walkover heading into Thursday night's short program, worth one-third of the total score.

"I never think about being No. 1 and skating against anyone," Kwan said. "I've always been a competitor who always skates for the fun of it. I don't go out there and think I'm untouchable. I never think that way, because you never know. Tara was a skater that no one ever heard of and she won. So it could be anybody next."

Lipinski, however, was in a different class from Angela Nikodinov, Amber Corwin, Brittney McConn and Sarah Hughes. She had a track record that exceeded any resume this year's skaters own -- and a ton of talent, too.

"How am I going to do it for another three years?" she asked, giggling. "That's what I've been asking myself. It's just ... not worrying about the future."

That means upgrading what already is a very impressive repertoire, including practicing several triple jump combinations.

"I've worked a lot on speed between jumps, the spins -- not spinning just because it is required -- and the little things that matter," Kwan said. "But for me, it's the pleasure of skating. That's what it comes down to. Skating.

"When I stop loving to skate, that's when it's time to walk away."

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