At the young age of 7½, Michelle realized her dream to become an Olympic champion when she saw her idol, Brian Boitano, win his Olympic gold medal in the 1988 Olympics. Her parents hired Frank Carroll to coach both Michelle and Karen. With the help of Frank, Michelle began to learn all that she would need to know in order for her to become a top skater.
Michelle competed in the 1992 Junior National Championships where she finished in ninth place. She wanted to take the test to become a senior level skater but Frank, however, thought that she was still young and needed more experience.
One day, while Frank was out of town, Michelle decided to take the test on her own. She passed easily but when Frank returned, he was furious.
In 1993, Michelle gained instant attention when she became the youngest U.S. Olympic Festival champion. She landed six triple jumps in front of the largest crowd ever of 25,691 people. Michelle went on to win four other competitions that year.
After winning the Junior World Championships in 1994, Michelle went on to capture the silver medal at the National Championships. She was first alternate to the Olympic and World teams. Replacing Tonya Harding at the 1994 Worlds, Michelle skated beautifully in front of the local Japanese crowd. The audience was stunned at how this "little girl" skated so well and had represented the United States. Michelle's eighth place finish allowed the United States to send ladies to the championships the following year. Michelle's finish in the top ten meant that she did not have to qualify for next year's event.
The following season, Michelle went on the win her second silver medal at the National Championships. Michelle skated stunningly at the World Championships on Birmingham, England. With her free skate performance, Michelle earned the only standing oviation of the night and earning third place for the free skate. She had skated the best she could and was overwhelmed with joy. Many thought that Michelle should've medaled that night instead of finishing fourth overall. Frank Carroll, Michelle's coach, believed the judges thought Michelle wan't ready to stand on the world podium because they had wanted the Ladies World Champion, not the Girls World Champion. With or without a medal that night, Michelle had shown the world that she had arrived.
The 1995-1996 season, would prove to be golden for Michelle. Her transformation and stunned the skating world. The ponytailed little girl we had remembered was no more. Instead there was a mature and sophisticated young lady. With her new look and stunning artistry, Michelle told the judges that she was ready to stand on top of that podium. During that season, Michelle won nine out of the ten competitons she entered, including the World Championships. At Worlds, Michelle had won the World title by a slim margin over China's Chen Lu, who had skated flawlessly. Michelle had also earned two perfect marks of 6.0 in artistry.
The '96-'97 season was rough for Michelle. Winning the first four compeitions of the season, Michelle fell to the ice at the 1997 National Championships and placed to Tara Lipinski. Michelle's loss was completely unexpected, proving that Michelle wasn't invincible. She went on to place second at the Champion Series. At this point many skating viewers were confused. What do you do when you're at the top and you fall? For Michelle Kwan, she found a new perspective on the sport and life. Michelle's new perspective brought a new quality to her skating, inspiration. She decided that the most important thing when she skated was to have fun. At the World Championships, Michelle had a three-turn out of her triple lutz which placed her in fourth place after the short program. Many had thought that Michelle would crumble in her free skate, but Michelle had just done the opposite. She skated the best she had skated in a while and received a standing oviation before her program was over. Michelle went on to win the silver medal that night, but in her mind Michelle had won the ultimate battle. The battle against herself. She had learned to face her fears head on. Armed with her new perspective and attitude on life combined with her restored confidence.
Soon, the '97-'98 season came it was time to start training for the Olympics. After skating in one competition at the beginning of the season, Michelle was diagnosed with a stress factor on her left foot. She did not, however, let that bring her down but instead waited patiently as her foot began to heal. At the Nationals, Michelle skated the programs of her life earning a total of 15 perfect 6.0's. She was well on her way to the Olympics. At the Olympics, Michelle took the lead after the short program but then lost it during the long program to her rival. Tara Lipinski became the 1998 Olympic champion. Michelle did not let this ruin her sportsmanship but continued to have the spirit of a champion like she had always had. At the World Championships, she once again proved that she was at the top by winning the 1998 World Championships.