A lot of people in your position have this sort of paradox where, you're so famous and beloved, yet, when you look at their personal lives they don't have time to have anybody. How have you dealt with that?

Well, I'm seeing someone and it's been almost 13 months now, so that's the longest relationship I've had, and it's difficult at times because I don't get a lot of time away from skating when I can work on my relationship, and, um, it is tough. But I think if you really love somebody, it's not going to just fade away because you're gone for a little while. It's just something that will always be there, and always you can feel the love coming to you, and you can always give love back.

When you win the gold medal in Torino, and you're on the podium, the DJ looks down, he's like: "Dude, we don't have the 'Star-Spangled Banner.' Tell me what to play." What would you have him play?

"Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera.

Why do you like Christina Aguilera?

Well, she's so talented and I feel that I'm very talented at what I do. And she's been criticized and sort of knocked down and I feel like that's happened to me, and it's just a feeling that I get that a lot of people don't want me to succeed because people are jealous of talent and people that are just naturally good at something ... She's just my biggest role model. She's my idol, I guess I could say.

So you've got two nicknames: Tinkerbell and Simba. Right?

Yes.

Can you explain them?

Simba is just a name a friend has given me because for a while I had really long hair, and when I was skating, like, the pictures in the magazines and the newspapers would always be like, my hair sticking straight up the sides and straight up and I looked like a lion. So, it was like I was Simba, the Lion King. Because I'm small, I'm tiny, so I can be a lion cub. And then, Tinkerbell [skater] Nicole Bobek actually gave me on tour last year just because she says I kind of float around, like even when I'm on the ice and off the ice. I kind of float around and am very quick, and doing everything all at once and, I don't know. I guess she kind of thinks I'm like Tinkerbell.

What do you think are some of Michelle Kwan's greatest strengths and her greatest weaknesses?

Her greatest strength is she is an amazing competitor. She can go into any competition, maybe not as trained as she was when she was younger and maybe not, ah, maybe not as strong ... um, technically as some of the other people. But she still, she goes out and she rocks it and she does her program with flair and elegance. I mean, she's very admirable in that way because she can just pull it out of her anywhere. She can pull a performance out of her nether regions ... As far as weaknesses go, it's only like nitpicky skating things that are her weaknesses. She doesn't have as strong jumps as some of the other athletes, and some people are saying, "That's gonna kill her," and that sort of thing. But, you really can't deny someone that talented, and that has had as much longevity.

Isn't her look a little dowdy?

A little bit. She's working with Vera Wang now.

Ah.

Yeah. So, uh ...

Nancy Kerrigan was the one who started working with Vera Wang, right?

Yeah, but Michelle's sister Karen actually was an assistant or an intern for Vera Wang, so they kind of got in the door that way. And, they make beautiful dresses. But I say she could jazz it up a little bit more.

So what does the next year hold for you?

Of course I'll progress as a skater, and hopefully as a person as well, and just this is crunch time now. It's like doing an all-night cram session before a big exam. This year is just going to be all about working up to the Olympics, I think, and making sure that I'm ready and that I have the right look and the right programs, and just being strong. Because I'm just now starting to become more noticed and more in the limelight. So, I mean, going to the Olympics as a medal contender will be a big deal for me, so I want to capitalize on it and make it the best I can, and not really second-guess anything and just go all out and go for the Olympics and whatever happens, happens.

What do you think of Plushenko's style?

It's more dynamic than me. He's more, if I'm doing dances he's more like salsa and I'm more ballet, I think.

What do you think of his look?

I think he looks good. I think his costumes are interesting, and his programs are always interesting and I like his hair. Because my hair is really curly so it's hard to get it to, like, do anything. And he has nice blond, straight hair. And he looks different. He has a really big nose. And some people might say, "Oh, that's hideous and it's ugly," but I think it just makes him different and I think that's cool. So, I'm in extreme admiration for him and what he's done for our sport, and for men's figure skating. And, ah, he's definitely my favorite men's skater. Besides myself.

Recent Stories