tennis legend Billie Jean King, Olympic track champion Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, Olympic swimming champion Donna de Varona and, of course, Hughes and Kwan. Asked which athlete in the room impressed them most, Charlie jumped in. “Michelle Kwan, of course!” he said, as Meryl nodded emphatically in agreement. How perfect, then, to have the most-decorat-
ed figure skater in U.S. history present the highest honor given to a female athlete. “It meant so much to have Michelle present
the award,” Meryl said. “I look up to her not just as a great figure skater, but as a great person, which is so much more important. “Te message I
Skating great Michelle Kwan presented Davis with her award. Davis and White regard Kwan as their main role model, both on and off the ice.
took away from the event is that the skills you learn through sport, especially for women, transcend sport and really take you places the rest of your life. Michelle is the perfect ex- ample of that. She is one of the most celebrated athletes in our country of all time, and she took the skills she learned from competing in figure skat-
ing and continued on that track of success, dedica- tion and passion. She’s a prime example of what the Women’s Sports Foundation stands for and how she continues to be a role model for girls everywhere.” Although Kwan has not competed since 2006,
she remains one of the most recognizable women in sports. A two-time Olympic medalist, a five-time World champion and a nine-time U.S. champion, she’s a longtime supporter of the WSF and consid- ers King among her mentors. Honored with three of the WSF’s highest awards, Kwan remains grateful for receiving a foundation travel grant in 1993. “It meant so much,” Kwan said, recalling when
her family struggled to pay for her and sister Karen to skate. “It meant ice time, coaching, skates, everything to keep going. And that’s what the Women’s Sports Foundation does: It continues to make dreams come true for girls and women. I know that programs like ‘GoGirlGo!’ and others have changed lives. Tat’s why I’m there for them every year.” Kwan, 34, said it was “a joy and honor” to be
asked to present Meryl with her award. “As a figure skater, Meryl embodies such
strength, and yet she looks so beautiful,” Kwan said. “Every arm movement, each placement of her body, she makes things look easy. She’s flawless. She’s so strong and courageous. “Meryl and Charlie compete at the highest level, yet know the importance of education and
Meryl Davis and Charlie White, as they have for 17 years, shared the special evening.
how to focus on all aspects in life. It’s what’s so spe- cial about them. Being an incredible athlete only goes so far. It’s important to be an incredible indi- vidual, too. I have high hopes for them, knowing the best is to come.”
WSF founder King agreed, noting the attri- butes that make Meryl special. “She is a winner on and off the ice and she is an
excellent representative for our nation, her sport and athletes everywhere,” King said. “Meryl is very hum- ble, and obviously very smart, and she has a wonder- ful talent that enables her to share her knowledge and her experiences with others. People want to be a fan of Meryl’s because she inspires them.” Meryl, who is taking a women’s studies class
at the University of Michigan, said she is inspired by the foundation’s mission, noting that King cre- ated the WSF in 1974 with prize money she earned playing tennis. “Billie Jean initiated a movement of empow- ering girls with this foundation,” Meryl said. “It’s no less important now than it was when she started it 40 years ago. She’s a very impressive woman. For her to take a stand the way she did and when she did is impressive. Today, she continues that fight and has laid the foundation for the future.” “What I like so much about Billie Jean,” Charlie added, “is that she feels like it’s her duty to make a difference. She made the point of telling everyone in the room that you have the opportunity to make a positive change in the world. Growing up, our role models were like that. Michelle, Scott [Hamilton], Kristi [Yamaguchi]. Tey still aren’t afraid to take a stand on things they feel strongly about, and that’s what we hope to achieve. If we don’t do that, we’re not doing our jobs.” With the fame that followed the Olympics and their leading roles on “Dancing With Te Stars,” Meryl and Charlie are keenly aware that they will be held to even higher standards. “We feel so strongly that athletes have a real
presence and impact on what kids see as acceptable. We take that role seriously,” Meryl said. “In the U.S., we are so driven by pop culture that it’s re- ally sad to see these people with so much influence and impact not taking that role seriously. Being in a roomful of women who take that role very seriously was very powerful.” “Because athletes are role models,” Charlie said, “if they like it or not.”
Family, friends and supporters of Meryl Davis and Charlie White attended the gala. Front row, left to right: Jacqui White, Cheryl Davis, Meryl Davis; Back row, left to right: Yuki Saegusa, Shawn Rettstatt, Hailey Ohnuki, Charlie White, Paul Davis, Sam Auxier, Lynn Auxier
2014 WSF ANNUAL SALUTE TO WOMEN IN SPORTS © MARGUERITE I. FULLER SKATING 11
PHOTO BY MIKE COPPOLA/GETTY IMAGES
PHOTO BY MIKE COPPOLA/GETTY IMAGES
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