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US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Thursday named Michelle Kwan, the Hong Kong-born US figure-skating champion, Washington's first Public Diplomacy Ambassador.
Kwan, a two-time Olympic medalist and the most decorated figure-skater in US history, will visit China early next year on the first mission of her non-salaried career as a goodwill envoy, Rice said.
"As an athlete, I have always been proud to represent the United States," Kwan, 26, said during a ceremony at the State Department. "I've always wanted to somehow serve our country."
Kwan will serve under Karen Hughes, the undersecretary of state for public diplomacy, who has created controversy with her campaign to present the Bush administration's policies in Iraq and throughout the Middle East as "democracy promotion".
But the diminutive skater insisted she saw her role as "not political".
The State Department said Kwan's mission would be to represent American values, especially to young people and sports enthusiasts.
One of the world's best-known figure skaters, Kwan represents "a positive vision of hope", said Hughes, highlighting the "personal appeal of her unique American story".
An injury early this year forced Kwan to withdraw from Olympic competition after a stellar career that included winning nine US national championships, five world titles and bronze and silver Olympic medals.
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AFP 092215 GMT 11 06
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