Kwan to focus on school rather than back for 2010 Olympics

WASHINGTON, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Five-time world champion Michelle Kwan picked school over making another attempt at the gold medals 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, said the U.S. Figure skating on Friday.

The 29-year-old Kwan has not skated competitively since 2005 but had pondered making a return to the ice in hopes of earning a spot in the U.S. team for the 2010 Games.

However, Friday's statement declared that she has decided not to compete the 2009-2010 season and will attend graduate school at Tufts University near Boston working on a master's in international affairs.

"Skating will always be a part of me," said Kwan. "But in the bigger picture of my life, I have always wanted to find a career that will allow me to make a positive contribution and difference in the world."

Known, who settled for silver at the 1998 Nagano Olympics and bronze in 2002 at Salt Lake City, remains the United States most successful figure skater winning the world titles in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2003 as well as nine U.S. national championships, including eight straight from 1998.