Torrance native, Olympian Kwan nominated by Biden as envoy to Belize

TORRANCE — Former champion fig skater Michelle Kwan, a autochthonal of Torrance and a two-time Olympic medalist, volition beryllium nominated by President Joe Biden to beryllium ambassador to Belize, the White House announced today.

Kwan, 41, was 1 of 8 imaginable ambassadors Biden said Wednesday helium intends to nominate for diplomatic posts astir the world.

A metallic medalist successful the 1998 Olympics and a bronze victor successful 2002, Kwan has a bachelor’s grade from the University of Denver with a absorption connected planetary relations and a master’s grade from Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

She besides worked connected Biden’s statesmanlike run and, according to reports, had been lobbying for an ambassadorship.

“If confirmed, I volition beryllium precise arrogant to service my country,” said Kwan, who present lives successful Rhode Island.

“Belize is afloat of unthinkable past and culture, and has been a tremendous spouse to the United States. I look guardant to moving with the Belizean authorities connected economical issues, to enactment an extremity to this pandemic, and to code the basal causes of migration.”

Besides her Olympic medals, Kwan won 5 satellite championships and 9 nationalist titles, the past successful 2005. She presently serves arsenic the treasurer and arsenic a committee subordinate of Special Olympics International.

Her post-skating resume besides includes State Department roles arsenic a elder advisor astatine the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and advisor to the Office of Global Women’s Issues, wherever she assisted with the U.S.-China Women’s Leadership Exchange and Dialogue.

In addition, she was a subordinate of the President’s Council connected Fitness, Sports and Nutrition and Council connected Empowering Women and Girls Through Sports inaugural astatine State Department.

“Michelle Kwan has had a distinguished vocation successful nationalist service, diplomacy, and sports,” according to the White House. “She became the archetypal Public Diplomacy Envoy successful 2006 and for a decade, traveled extensively connected behalf of the U.S. Department of State to prosecute younker astir the satellite connected societal and acquisition issues.”