US Figure skating diva Michelle Kwan has become a spokeswoman for the Walt Disney Co.
The news came on Thursday, only a few days after the Chinese American dropped out of the Turin Winter Games ending her epic quest for Olympic gold.
Kwan, who recently declined an offer from rival media company NBC Universal to join its Olympics broadcast, will take part in promotions, advertising and public service messages involving all of Disney's businesses, the company said.
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The deal also calls for her to make guest appearances on original TV programming and make personal appearances at live company events. Disney owns the ABC television network.
Financial terms of the multiyear agreement were not disclosed.
Kwan, 25, one of the most successful and recognized figure skaters of all time, has won a record-tying nine U.S. national titles and five world championships. But her decade-long hunt for an Olympic gold medal came to a tearful end on Sunday as she withdrew from competition due to a groin injury.
NBC, which is providing U.S. television coverage of the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, initially offered Kwan a job as an on-air commentator for the Games back in January, when it appeared she would not make the U.S. team, NBC has said.
An insider at NBC said Kwan declined the offer, saying she did not wish to be a distraction to her former teammates.
Kwan has been associated with Disney projects before, skating to the music of Disney's animated film hit "Mulan" in a 1998 television special and appearing in the 1994 special "Greatest Hits on Ice."
(Source: AP) |