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Step 1
Learn to skate at a young age. Begin skating at or before 8-years-old and skate with a close family member. Michelle enjoyed learning to skate with her sister, Karen, because they encouraged each other, and they shared the learning experience.
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Step 2
Practice hard and be dedicated to training. Although figure skating began as a hobby for Michelle and her sister Karen, it soon became a passion and they would train for between 4 to 5 hours daily. Sleep in your skate outfits and tights to be ready for the three a.m. practices before school, and even practice after school like Michelle Kwan did as a youngster.
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Step 3
Train under a world-famous coach like Frank Carroll at a figure skating school like Ice Castle International Training Center. This allows you to focus completely on figure skating, especially if you have an abundance of raw talent like Coach Carroll says Michelle has. Practice skating moves Michelle mastered such as the triple lutz and double toe loop in combination, steady spins and spiral sequence.
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Step 4
Improve your performances with choreography that teaches you how to feel the music instead of just performing a routine. Lori Nichols first choreographed for Michelle. Also include costumes from world-famous designers like Vera Wang who designs skate performance costumes for Michelle.
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Step 5
Be a role model to young skaters. Spend time talking to children at hospitals and take time to sign autographs. Be humble and gracious even when you do not win every competition, and learn to skate for the love of the sport rather than to win. Michelle says to skate from the heart and Peggy Fleming concurs by saying you can see Michelle's soul when she skates.
