Michelle Kwan has some advice for Kim Yu-na

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Five-time world champion figure skater Michelle Kwan says that South Korea’s Kim Yu-na, one of the favorites for the Vancouver Olympics, is an influential role model for future figure skaters from the Asian nation.
“I know they all look up to Yu-na Kim,” Kwan told the Associated Press. “It’s a very big compliment when [Kim] said, ‘I looked up to you, Michelle, when I was very young.’”

The 19-year-old Kim, the reigning world champion, is South Korea’s first hope for an Olympic medal in figure skating and is currently training in Canada in preparation for the Winter Games.

She said in August that she grew up idolizing Kwan, who won a silver medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympics and bronze at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

Kwan, 29, told reporters that Kim will be grappling with the pressure of competing at her first Olympics. Her advice: ‘Enjoy the Games.’

-- Houston Mitchell