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Figure skating: Injured Kwan pulls out
 Michelle Kwan © Getty Images Feb 12 2006
By Pritha Sarkar
TURIN, Feb 12 (Reuters) - American Michelle Kwan pulled out of the Winter Olympics on Sunday after suffering a groin injury during practice.
Kwan, a five-times world champion, sustained a groin strain on Saturday at the Palaghiaccio practice ice rink in Turin, the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) said.
"Taking myself off the team is the most difficult decision I've ever had to make but it's the right decision," Kwan said in a statement.
"This injury prevents me from skating my best and I've said all along that if I couldn't skate to the level that I expected from myself I'd withdraw from the team."
Her withdrawal will now allow Emily Hughes, sister of 2002 Olympic champion Sarah Hughes, to participate in the women's competition which begins on Feb. 21.
Hughes finished third at last month's U.S. nationals but was controversially left out of the Olympic team when Kwan successfully received a medical waiver to participate at the Games despite missing the nationals with a previous groin injury.
"The USOC submitted a Late Athlete Replacement Form to the Torino Olympic Organising Committee (TOROC), submitting Emily Hughes as a replacement athlete in the ladies figure skating competition," the federation said in a statement.
SEVERE GROIN STRAIN
"The USOC expects to receive an answer from TOROC this week. Hughes will be travelling to Turin shortly."
Kwan was evaluated by a U.S. team doctor Jim Moeller at 0115 GMT on Sunday in the athletes' village and she was diagnosed with a severe groin strain, which she sustained while landing a triple flip jump.
"This injury limits her function, making it impossible for her to jump, land and skate effectively and without risk of serious injury," Moeller said in a statement.
He added that the injury was unrelated to the 25-year-old's previous problems and that she was expected to make a full recovery.
"The Olympics is the greatest sporting event in the world and what's most important is that the United States fields the strongest team possible," said Kwan, who was seen to struggle during a training session on Saturday before announcing her withdrawal.
"As much as I'd love to represent the United States in Torino, I would never stand in the way of that."
Kwan won a silver at the 1998 Olympics and earned a bronze four years later at Salt Lake City.
刚刚看到都灵官网上这篇报导马上就哭了……
认识kwan是在98年的长野，然后，看着她一次又一次诠释着优雅和妩媚，精致和风情，却也一次又一次为她流泪……
她足够优秀，却总是缺那么一点点运气，到这份上，我早就知道我不该奢求什么了，但总是希望她能够再一次站在冰面上，再一次诠释属于她的故事……既然她选择离开，我也支持她，希望今后还能够看到她在冰面上翩翩起舞，无论是在业余还是职业的赛场上…… | 
显身卡
