Karen Wingyan Kwan Oppegard
(born 1 June 1978) is best known as the older sister of
figure skater
Michelle Kwan. Karen is two years older than Michelle and was an elite figure skater herself.
The Kwan sisters began figure skating at the same time and trained and competed against each other for years. Karen, like Michelle, was coached by
Frank Carroll at the
Lake Arrowhead
training center. Though Karen's results never quite matched Michelle's, she was known for her long legs and arms that added a lyrical style and an elegant dimension to her skating. She also had consistent triple
jumps
and good technical
spins
. Karen also represented the United States at numerous international skating events, and won the bronze medal at the 1996
Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany. At tall, Karen stands about taller than Michelle. She retired in 1997 to focus on school. She attended
Boston University.
Since ending her competitive skating career, Kwan has maintained her connection to the sport. She has worked as a choreographer and is the skating director at the East West Skating Palace, in
Artesia, California. The Kwan family owns and operates the rink.
Kwan graduated from Boston University in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in communications. She interned with clothing designer
Vera Wang (a relative), who is noted for designing figure skating costumes and personally designs Michelle's costumes. Kwan is married to three-time U.S.
pair skating champion and 1988 Olympic bronze medallist
Peter Oppegard. They have two daughters.
Event | 1994-1995 | 1995-1996 | 1996-1997 |
---|
U.S. Championships | 7th | 5th | 7th |
Troph??e Lalique | | | 7th |
Nebelhorn Trophy | | | 3rd |