2006年VOA标准英语-Michelle Kwan Drops Out of Winter Games

By Steve Schy
Turin
12 February 2006

American figure skater Michelle Kwan's quest for an Olympic gold medal has come to an end. An injury forced the 25-year-old Californian to pull out of the Turin Games.

U.S. Olympic Committee chairman Peter Ueberroth made the official announcement in Turin.

Peter Ueberroth 
  
  
"The United States Olympic Committee announces today that five-time World champion and nine-time U.S. champion Michelle Kwan has made a decision to withdraw from the 2006 Olympic Games due to a new injury, commonly called a groin strain," he said.

After the announcement, a somber¹ Kwan addressed the media.

"I wish I was here in better circumstances. You know after yesterday, going on the ice, feeling stiff, doing a triple-flip and pulling my groin again, just I do not think I can be 100 percent and I respect the Olympics too much to compete," said Kwan. 

Michelle Kwan
  
  
Kwan missed the Grand Prix season with a hip² injury, then missed qualifying at the U.S. Nationals last month with a groin injury. But after skating well at a monitoring session January 27, Kwan received a medical exemption³ to join the Turin team.

But following the long plane ride to Italy and marching in the opening ceremony, Kwan started having pain. She took a hard fall in practice Saturday and uncharacteristically left the session early.

U.S. team doctor Jim Moeller said he did not believe the injuries were related.

"Based on my evaluation⁴ and my knowledge of previous evaluations⁵ that she had obtained from other physicians, she was cleared medically and told that she had a complete recovery from her prior injuries. And based on my assessment⁶ at this moment, I would have to assess that it is an acute new injury," said Dr. Moeller.

Kwan, who has won an Olympic bronze and silver medal, teared up numerous times as she expressed her feelings at the news conference. 

 
Michelle Kwan wipes a tear during a press conference in Turin, Italy, Sunday
  
"It has always been a dream to win the Olympics and it is always an honor to represent your country," she said. "But I have learned it is not about the gold, it is about the spirit of it and it is about the sport itself. I have no regrets. I tried my hardest. And if I do not win the gold, it is OK. I have had a great career. I have been very lucky. And you know, this is a sport, and it is beautiful."

The U.S. Olympic Committee has chosen 17-year-old Emily Hughes, who was third at Nationals, as Kwan's replacement⁷. Emily is the younger sister of Sara Hughes, who won the women's Olympic figure skating gold medal four years ago.

1 somber   

adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• He had a somber expression on his face.他面容忧郁。
• His coat was a somber brown.他的衣服是暗棕色的。

2 hip   

n.臀部，髋；屋脊

参考例句：

• The thigh bone is connected to the hip bone.股骨连着髋骨。
• The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line.新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。

3 exemption   

n.豁免，免税额，免除

参考例句：

• You may be able to apply for exemption from local taxes.你可能符合资格申请免除地方税。
• These goods are subject to exemption from tax.这些货物可以免税。

4 evaluation   

n.估价，评价；赋值

参考例句：

• I attempted an honest evaluation of my own life.我试图如实地评价我自己的一生。
• The new scheme is still under evaluation.新方案还在评估阶段。

5 evaluations   

估价( evaluation的名词复数 )； 赋值； 估计价值； [医学]诊断

参考例句：

• In fact, our moral evaluations are merely expressions of our desires. 事实上，我们的道德评价只是我们欲望的表达形式。 来自哲学部分
• Properly speaking, however, these evaluations and insights are not within the concept of official notice. 但准确地讲，这些评估和深远见识并未包括在官方通知概念里。

6 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

7 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。