Olympic skater surprised by divorce filing

On Behalf of | Jun 30, 2017 | Divorce

Michelle Kwan skated into hearts across Texas as a two-time Olympian, but reports say that her divorce has turned as cold as ice. As the Providence Journal explains, Kwan, who had been living apart from husband Clay Pell since November, learned of her husband’s divorce filing from Twitter and a story in the New York Daily News. The documents, citing irreconcilable differences, were filed in California. Days later, Kwan filed for divorce in Rhode Island, where she has been living for the past year.

With tensions between the couple rising, Kwan attempted to serve divorce papers ten times, and Pell refused to respond. Finally, the divorce papers were taped to his front door. He is trying to get the case in Rhode Island dismissed so that his case can proceed in California. According to her filing, Pell has labeled his belongings in their shared home, including luggage and a mattress. She has asked him not to come to the house in Newport, Rhode Island, which is currently being renovated. It was purchased in 2014 for $1.5 million, and Kwan wants the home to be put on the market so both parties can be reimbursed.

According to the Associated Press, the couple was married in Providence in 2013. They have no children.

Kwan won the silver medal in the 1998 Olympics and a bronze in 2002. She won the World Figure Skating Championship five times in her career. Pell unsuccessfully ran for Rhode Island governor in 2014. His grandfather was the late Claiborne Pell, who was a United States senator.

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