Olympic Champion Peggy Fleming Gives Michelle Kwan a Replica of her Gold Ice Skating Medal

MSNBC ^ | February 22, 2002 | Lester Holt

[Boxsford]

I don't know, I think there are other ways of showing respect than doing this. Did you get a look at Peggy Flemming's face when Sarah won and not Michelle? She was stunned and did not look too happy.

[TracyPA]

I was hoping for anyone, but KWAN! To me she is just greedy. She has National, World medals up the wazoo and she's crying because she only has Olympic Silver and now Bronze! Now she might stay competitive until 2006! Yeah Michelle, try for ZERO medals next olympics. I'll bet the coach she fired is turning cartwheels.

[Redbob]

Wonder if Kwan would have had so much media support if she weren't Asian?

[codebreaker]

I saw Peggy's reaction, she was just as surprised as the rest of us.

I agree it was a good move not to make too much of this last night, to take away from Sarah's victory.

[carton253]

The way they were praising her & hyping her up I was hoping she didn't get any medal at all!

But that isn't her fault. She has no control over what NBC does. And to wish her ill because NBC was pumping its ratings, well... it says alot about you.

[codebreaker]

I have heard that Michelle will take two years off to finish college at UCLA and then start preparing for 2006.

It is time for her to take a break, earlier this week she told the press she might be eligible to 2010.

[Senator_Blutarski]

Mr. 69CovertibleFirebird,...may I call you Firebird?...Can you tell us what this moment means to you, how you came to the decision to give up this precious momento of your youth, how you hope Michelle will feel, what your parents think, how the space aliens that control your body feel about this very special and moving act of kindness and concern for someone who must be in the very depths of depression at this electric moment in Olympic history?

We'll take your answer after this quick message from our sponsors...

[codebreaker]

I was hoping Michelle would win so she can get this gorilla off her back!

[Atlas Sneezed]

I sometimes get Kwan confused with that other talented American skater of Asian heritage who is a daughter of an orthodontist. Clearly, Kwan in NOT the daughter of an orthodontist.

[Clemenza]

Wonder if Kwan would have had so much media support if she weren't Asian?

She was 1. Pretty and 2. a Minority, two qualities that the media LOVE!!!

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

but I think it is a nice gesture

I guess that depends on how you look at it. This woman is with the best in the world and proved that she can skate with the best. To give her a "gesture" could also be seen as insulting. So what if she didn't get the gold she is still with the best.

My extremely compasionate gesture of giving her my trophy still stands even though she may not have even competed in the Boy Scouts Pinewood Derby (being a girl would have made it tough).

[Phantom Lord]

I have never been so inspired by an athelete as I was watching Sarah Hughes last night.

What about John Rocker?

Mike Tyson?

OJ Simpson?

[Sword_of_Gideon]

And to wish her ill because NBC was pumping its ratings, well... it says alot about you.

Yea... it says that I can choose to root for whoever I wish for whatever reason I choose. My personal preferences are just that & I have every freedom to hold them & to voice them at will. You have have the very same reason to disagree with me if you choose.... to me it makes little difference.

[Phantom Lord]

I have never been so inspired by an athelete as I was watching Sarah Hughes last night.

What about John Rocker?

Mike Tyson?

OJ Simpson?

Kurt Warner going from stocking supermarket shelves to Super Bowl champion is a hell of a story too.

[codebreaker]

Ping

[OKSooner]

No, it was whatsername, Dorothy Hamill who gave her the plastic medal. Actually, I think Dorothy gave her the plastic Gold Medal as an insult, one that Michelle would be the last one to figure out. As in, "here's your gold medal..."

[codebreaker]

Kristi Yamaguchi?

[codebreaker]

But Michelle will probably set the all time record for world championships next month.

This is like Tiger Woods after losing the Grand Slam at the PGA being consoled by Jack Nicklaus who gives him a membership card to Augusta National (where only he and Arnold Palmer are members)

[codebreaker]

Catfight!

[DSH]

Wonder if Kwan would have had so much media support if she weren't Asian?

That's funny. I was just wondering if some on Free Republic would be showing so much animosity towards her is she weren't Asian.