American figure skating legend Michelle Kwan is among the nine skaters, coaches, and contributors who are nominated for the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame Class of 2012. Joining her on the nominations list is 1996 U.S. champion Rudy Galindo.
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Related: Kwan named to USFS Hall of Fame
Kwan’s nomination seems like a complete formality, as Kwan boasts credentials like no other. She is a nine-time U.S. champion, five-time World champion, and two-time Olympic medalist, and was the most dominant figure skater of her generation. Her last competition was the 2005 World Championships, and though she was named to the 2006 Olympic team, she withdrew before competition was to begin after sustaining a groin injury during practice.
Also on the list of nominees is Kwan’s long-time choreographic collaborator, Lori Nichol, who has assembled some of the masterpieces of the past two decades of skating. She has since taken on coaching duties as World champion Patrick Chan’s coach.
Galindo won the U.S. championships in 1996 and added a World bronze medal to his accomplishments the same year. His accomplishments in pairs with Olympic champion Kristi Yamaguchi make his resume even more impressive. They were the World junior champions in 1988 – Galindo himself was the World junior champion the year before.
Last year, the entire 1961 American World championships team – skaters, coaches, officials, and family members – was inducted into the Hall of Fame on the 40th anniversary of the plane crash that took the lives of every person onboard. In 2010, 2002 Olympic champion Sarah Hughes and three-time World medalists Jenni Meno and Todd Sand entered the Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame Class of 2012 will be announced on December 15. A complete list of the nominees is below.
Michelle Kwan– Outstanding Competitor (Ladies)
Rudy Galindo – Outstanding Competitor (Men)
Robert Specht – Outstanding Competitor (Men)
Lynn Benson – Outstanding Coach
Thomas McGinnis – Outstanding Coach
Franklin Nelson – Outstanding Contributor (Non-Athletic)
Carole Shulman – Outstanding Contributor (Non-Athletic)
Jef Billings – Outstanding Contributor (Creative Impact)
Lori Nichol – Outstanding Contributor (Creative Impact)
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