Figure skating legend Michelle Kwan stunned a crowd at the Santa Monica outdoor rink with a breathtaking performance to Andra Day’s ‘Rise Up.’
Kwan wore simple black and skated like it was the most natural thing in the world. People lined up against the glass, faces lit up, realizing they were watching one of the greatest skaters who ever lived.
Kwan has five World Championships and nine U.S. National Championships to her name — including eight consecutive national titles, which ties a record.
Every spin and every edge matched the feeling of the song. ‘Rise Up’ is about pushing through pain and exhaustion and choosing to keep going anyway. Kwan made that real on the ice. When she landed a double Axel, the crowd erupted.
When the music stopped, the applause was loud. Kwan didn’t rush off. She walked the rink perimeter, shook hands, greeted fans, and smiled the whole time.
WATCH: Michelle Kwan’s Incredible Performance to ‘Rise Up’
