Michelle Kwan, the American figure skater who owns nine national championships and five world titles, is about to become a non-salaried U.S. diplomat.
On Thursday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice plans to name the 26-year-old Californian and daughter of Chinese immigrants from Hong Kong as a public diplomacy ambassador, said a senior U.S. official who spoke anonymously pending the formal announcement.
Kwan, the biggest star in her sport for a decade, will represent American values, especially to young people and sports enthusiasts and is expected to travel widely, the official said.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
