From figure skating in the Olympics to a seat in politics: Retired ice skater Michelle Kwan will now serve as U.S. ambassador to Belize. The US Senate confirmed her for the role on September 29, after she was tapped by President Joe Biden for the gig last December. Kwan is one of the most decorated and recognizable faces in U.S. figure skating history. She won gold at the World Championships five times (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003), a silver medal at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, and a bronze at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.
Since finishing her athletic career, Kwan has held roles in both the Bush and Obama administrations, serving as a public diplomacy envoy and a member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. Prior to being confirmed for this ambassadorship, Kwan said she would “be very proud to serve my country.”
“Belize is full of incredible history and culture, and has been a tremendous partner to the United States. I look forward to working with the Belizean government on economic issues, to put an end to this pandemic, and to address the root causes of migration,” Kwan said in 2021, per CNN.
