Figure Skating
Kwan earns 8th national crown; Weir gets his 1st

By Nancy Armour
The Associated Press

	Michelle Kwan
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ATLANTA — With her hands to the heavens and a huge grin on her face, Michelle Kwan sprinted down the ice, turning her footwork into a victory lap and energizing Philips Arena with a jolt of electricity.

After all these years, there is still no one who does it better.

Kwan gave her rivals yet another lesson in how it's done last night, winning her seventh straight national title and eighth overall with style, grace and determination.

"I just let it fly. I was like, 'ahhhhh!' " Kwan said, laughing. "I felt the audience skate with me at the end. It was a crazy experience because you can feel the energy and the vibe."

Sasha Cohen finished second. Jennifer Kirk was third.

Johnny Weir won his first men's title with an excellent performance, bouncing back from the costly fall that knocked him out of last year's competition.

Three-time national champion Michael Weiss was second, and Matt Savoie finished third.

Kwan got seven perfect 6.0s for artistry as she swept the nine-judge panel. She has 35 perfect marks in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but they continue to leave her speechless. When she saw the string of 6.0s, her mouth dropped open and she buried her face in coach Rafael Arutunian's shoulder.

"It's been a magical night," she said. "Skating a performance like that, it was amazing. The marks were like the cherry on top of a perfect sundae. I can't ask for more."

Well, perhaps a similar night next year. Maribel Vinson has the record of nine U.S. championships. Kwan's seven-year winning streak ties Dick Button for the longest in the national championships. And she has medaled 11 straight years, surpassing the record she shared with Theresa Weld Blanchard.

Kwan also owns five world-championship crowns, tying Carol Heiss Jenkins for the most by an American woman.

"I don't think it's about stacking medals," Kwan said. "For me, it's about performance. I feel like I've gained experience, not titles."

Kwan won her first national title in 1996 at age 15.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company