Dream over as Kwan pulls out of Olympics
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-02-13 05:35

Her last major event was the 2005 world championships where she finished fourth.

"I felt good and ready to go," she insisted.

At first she blamed the stiffness she felt after training Saturday on spending four hours in the cold during the opening ceremony at the Olympic stadium the previous night.

But as the pain grew steadily worse Saturday she was forced to consult with US team doctor Dr. Jim Moeller early in the morning.

Dr Moeller said: "During training yesterday Ms Kwan injured her adductor muscle in her right hip, commonly called a groin strain.

"This injury limits her function making it impossible for her to jump, land and skate, effectively without risk of serious injury."

Moeller said that the injury was unrelated to prior injuries.

Kwan won the world title in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003.

She never won the Olympic gold - taking silver 1998 and a bronze in 2002.

But she insisted that not winning the Olympic gold would not sully her achievements as the most decorated American skater with 43 championship wins.

"I've learned it's not about the gold, it's about the spirit of it and the sport," she said.