--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A few years after I finished skating…" description: "\"A few years after I finished skating, someone asked where my medals were. I'm like, 'In a suitcase somewhere.' Now they're nicely displayed in an ice r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/michelle-kwan-11081_experience_a-few-years-after-i-finished-skating-som_1459216.jpg" --- # A few years after I finished skating, someone asked where… ![“A few years after I finished skating, someone asked where my medals were. I'm like, 'In a suitcase somewhere.' Now they're nicely displayed in an ice rink, but medals don't really mean that much. It's the experience, the story of the skating, the love.” quote by Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/michelle-kwan-11081_experience_a-few-years-after-i-finished-skating-som_1459216.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/michelle-kwan-11081_experience_a-few-years-after-i-finished-skating-som_1459216.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/michelle-kwan-11081_experience_a-few-years-after-i-finished-skating-som_1459216.jpg) > “A few years after I finished skating, someone asked where my medals were. I'm like, 'In a suitcase somewhere.' Now they're nicely displayed in an ice rink, but medals don't really mean that much. It's the experience, the story of the skating, the love.” [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The value of achievements lies not in the trophies but in the personal growth, memories, and passion behind them. **In simple terms:** Success is about experience, not medals. Key Takeaway Focus on love and story, not objects. Themes growth passion experience humility Mood reflective inspirational Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - coaching - personal reflection - team building - public speaking Key Concepts Athletic identity intrinsic motivation Questions to Reflect On - What experiences have shaped you more than any award? - How can you celebrate the journey over the result? A Different Perspective Objects can’t capture the depth of personal fulfillment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Medals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medals/) [Olympics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympics/) [Skating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skating/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) ## Related quotes > [I've been lucky: I've won a lot of medals, but I'd still like to win more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-silva/i-ve-been-lucky-i-ve-won-a-lot-of-medals-but-i-d-still-like-to-win/) [David Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-silva/) > [I want to win gold medals like KD.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrese-haliburton/i-want-to-win-gold-medals-like-kd/) [Tyrese Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrese-haliburton/) > [Skating takes up 70 percent of my time, school about 25 percent. Having fun and talking to my friends, 5 percent. It's hard. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/skating-takes-up-70-percent-of-my-time-school-about-25-percent-having/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [Skating is in my heart, not my head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/skating-is-in-my-heart-not-my-head/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [Skating has given me so much that it's priceless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/skating-has-given-me-so-much-that-it-s-priceless/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [I would just love to be able to give back to figure skating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/i-would-just-love-to-be-able-to-give-back-to-figure-skating/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [In figure skating, you have four minutes to do your best. It's your time; you do your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/in-figure-skating-you-have-four-minutes-to-do-your-best-it-s-your/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [I don't know where my medals are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-don-t-know-where-my-medals-are/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [“These aren’t my scars, cuts, and bruises. These are my medals of honor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-stevenson/these-aren-t-my-scars-cuts-and-bruises-these-are-my-medals-of-honor/) [Bryan Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-stevenson/) > [But probably this is helps to win, to win, to gold, more gold medals, and to win most my important medal, heart of people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olga-korbut/but-probably-this-is-helps-to-win-to-win-to-gold-more-gold-medals-and/) [Olga Korbut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olga-korbut/) > [I don't know what the point of life is, but I'm certain that five gold medals is not it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikaela-shiffrin/i-don-t-know-what-the-point-of-life-is-but-i-m-certain-that-five-gold/) [Mikaela Shiffrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikaela-shiffrin/) > [I have two hands. I can hold two medals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shani-davis/i-have-two-hands-i-can-hold-two-medals/) [Shani Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shani-davis/) > [You don't do a play to compete for an award. This was the argument I always had over the Oscars. I didn't win them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenda-jackson/you-don-t-do-a-play-to-compete-for-an-award-this-was-the-argument-i/) [Glenda Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenda-jackson/) > [The number of medals on an officer's breast varies in inverse proportion to the square of the distance of his duties from the front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edward-montague/the-number-of-medals-on-an-officer-s-breast-varies-in-inverse/) [Charles Edward Montague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edward-montague/) > [ The \[IBJJF\] medal has zero value. It means as much as this tablecloth right here, but people still kill themselves to try to get… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryron-gracie/the-ibjjf-medal-has-zero-value-it-means-as-much-as-this-tablecloth/) [Ryron Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryron-gracie/) ## More by Michelle Kwan > [If you ask another competitor, they may tell you they felt very competitive towards me. But I can tell you that my biggest competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/if-you-ask-another-competitor-they-may-tell-you-they-felt-very/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [Skating is in my heart, not my head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/skating-is-in-my-heart-not-my-head/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [When I feel like I'm in a rut, I remember it's the little things in life that are important, like riding a bike with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/when-i-feel-like-i-m-in-a-rut-i-remember-it-s-the-little-things-in/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [At 13, I was fearless. I looked at everything so positive. When you're older and been through it all, you know how bad it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/at-13-i-was-fearless-i-looked-at-everything-so-positive-when-you-re/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [When I look at the kids training today... I can tell which ones are going to do well. It's not necessarily the ones who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/when-i-look-at-the-kids-training-today-i-can-tell-which-ones-are/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [Work hard, be yourself, and have fun!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/work-hard-be-yourself-and-have-fun/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [The Women's Sports Foundation has empowered so many young girls and women across the U.S. I benefitted from WSF with a travel and training…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/the-women-s-sports-foundation-has-empowered-so-many-young-girls-and/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [Sports provides that tool kit to be successful in life. Because it's not always going to be smooth sailing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/sports-provides-that-tool-kit-to-be-successful-in-life-because-it-s/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [In figure skating, you have four minutes to do your best. It's your time; you do your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/in-figure-skating-you-have-four-minutes-to-do-your-best-it-s-your/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [When I look back at the world championships, I know there's a lot of room for improvement, I'm always up for a challenge. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/when-i-look-back-at-the-world-championships-i-know-there-s-a-lot-of/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [If you represent your country and millions of people are watching, it comes through a lot of grit and hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/if-you-represent-your-country-and-millions-of-people-are-watching-it/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [When I look at my own career, growing up, I was doing really well at age 11, but it was kind of isolating because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/when-i-look-at-my-own-career-growing-up-i-was-doing-really-well-at/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [Because I'm pushing my body so hard already, the last thing I want to do is have music that's really too strong, in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/because-i-m-pushing-my-body-so-hard-already-the-last-thing-i-want-to/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [I don't really remember a time younger than 5 years old that I didn't have skates on because all I can remember is every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/i-don-t-really-remember-a-time-younger-than-5-years-old-that-i-didn-t/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [If you have nothing in life but a good friend, you're rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/if-you-have-nothing-in-life-but-a-good-friend-you-re-rich/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) [Explore all 62 Michelle Kwan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) ## More Experience quotes > [Experience makes a lesson to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/experience-makes-a-lesson-to-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [From my experience of having served for 3000 days, I can say that anything can be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/from-my-experience-of-having-served-for-3000-days-i-can-say-that/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [My favorite job is the next one. Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [I happen to think it's the politics that makes you electable, but the reason for that is politicians sometimes talk about electability as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-happen-to-think-it-s-the-politics-that-makes-you-electable-but-the/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [Education is a lifelong experience. Experience is a lifelong education. Education plus experience equals expertise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bugeja/education-is-a-lifelong-experience-experience-is-a-lifelong-education/) Michael Bugeja > [Prison experience puts distance between me and any person who hasn't been there, done that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-mcconnell/prison-experience-puts-distance-between-me-and-any-person-who-hasn-t/) [Patricia McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-mcconnell/) > [Experience is a thorough teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jane-holmes/experience-is-a-thorough-teacher/) [Mary Jane Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-jane-holmes/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I've had a great experience with pretty much everybody I've worked with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-wasikowska/i-ve-had-a-great-experience-with-pretty-much-everybody-i-ve-worked/) [Mia Wasikowska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-wasikowska/) > [It wasn't a mistake, it was a fun learning experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-wasn-t-a-mistake-it-was-a-fun-learning-experience/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) [Browse all 11,792 Experience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A few years after I finished skating, someone asked where my medals were. I'm like, 'In a suitcase somewhere.' Now they're nicely displayed in an ice rink, but medals don't really mean that much. 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