Paul Oberjuerge: Kwan Speaks

Wow. The Michelle Is Done press conference was handled like a summit meeting. Seventeen TV cameras, quite a lot of reporters, considering how many are up the hill at the downhill and halfpipe.

The USOC ran out its big guns, from CEO Peter Ueberroth to U.S. Skating president Ron Hershberger and executive director David Raith, to the doctor who examined Michelle in the middle of the night.

After they praised her, and diagnosed her, Michelle came out. Wearing all black, turtle-necked sweater and pants. Walking with a slightly perceptible limp ...

She lasted about 15 minutes. She went through her day, how the pain got worse, etc. She spoke very quietly. She had none of her usual in-front-of-the-cameras cheer.

The guy next to me asked her about never winning Olympic gold, and that's when she started to lose it. Tears welled in her eyes. The photographers up front spotted it, and the motors on their cameras were whirring like mad.

She said, "It's always been a dream to win the Olympics ... but it's not about the gold, it's about the Olympics, it's the sport ... I have no regrets. I tried my hardest. If I didn't win the gold, it's OK. I had a great career. I was lucky."

She didn't talk about retirement, though it seems likely. She's 25, and would be 29 at Vancouver in 2010, and she's won everything else there is to win.

She lost it on the next question, which wasn't so pointed. About her night. "I called my parents and talked ... I didn't fall-asleep fall-asleep (all night). It's physical pain that's keeping me from skating. It's emotional pain, as well ..."

Her voice broke in there, and the USOC press officer said, "One more question." Someone asked about Emily Hughes, who will replace her (Hughes already has been approved by the IOC).

"The Olympics is an incredible experience. I know she'll have an amazing time and she'll make the country proud."

Kwan said she "probably will go home. I don't want to be a distraction here."