- Joined
- Jan 15, 2010
LA TIMES: U.S. Olympic athletes owe a debt to George Steinbrenner (Michelle Kwan)
Link: http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jul/13/sports/la-sp-0714-steinbrenner-olympics-20100714
And now us Michelle Kwan fans know who provided financial support for her when she was just starting out.
Link: http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jul/13/sports/la-sp-0714-steinbrenner-olympics-20100714
U.S. Olympic athletes owe a debt to George Steinbrenner
He gave money to Michelle Kwan, provided financial security for Ron Karnaugh, then focused USOC goals on winning medals after a poor performance at the [1988] Winter Games.
Michelle Kwan was a 13-year-old whose parents were trying to scrape up money for her skating when Yankees owner George Steinbrenner stepped up to the plate.
Kwan, who became the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history, never would meet Steinbrenner, who died Tuesday at age 80. But she still has the "wicked cool" Yankees jacket Steinbrenner sent in response to her thank-you letter for his $10,000 contribution to her funding in the fall of 1993.
"He was like an angel to come and help us," Kwan said Tuesday. "He supported a 13-year-old who at that point wasn't anybody."
And now us Michelle Kwan fans know who provided financial support for her when she was just starting out.