Kwan Assured Spot

Michelle Kwan, whose fractured toe is healing but still painful, doesn’t need to compete next week at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Philadelphia to make the Olympic team.

A defending world silver medalist with a previous national and world championship in her competitive resume, Kwan can be assured that one of the United States’ three women’s berths has already been reserved for her (only the winner of each event at nationals is guaranteed an Olympic spot).

But nationals is still very important for Kwan because she hasn’t skated competitively since Nov. 9, when she won Skate Canada.