Each summer, figure skating fans are asked to vote for the eligible skater whom they believe is most deserving of the SKATING magazine Readers' Choice Skater(s) of the Year Award (Michelle Kwan Trophy) based on the accomplishments of the past season (2022–23).
This year's voting cycle on U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone starts today, July 5 and ends on July 12. Eligible skaters for the award are:
- Top five senior-level skaters in each discipline at the 2023 Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships
- Medalists at the 2023 World Championships
- Medalists at the 2023 World Junior Figure Skating Championships
- Top three senior teams at the 2023 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships
- Medalists at the 2023 World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships
The winner(s) will be announced on the U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone in early August. The skater(s) or team who wins the honor will be presented with the Michelle Kwan Trophy at an upcoming championship event. The award debuted in 1989, with Kristi Yamaguchi as the winner.
Candidates for the 2023 SKATING Readers' Choice Award:
Starr Andrews (Women)
2023 U.S. pewter medalist
2023 Coupe du Printemps silver medalist
2022 NHK Trophy — 4th
2022 Skate Canada International silver medalist
2022 Nebelhorn Trophy — 6th
Sonia Baram and Daniel Tioumentsev (Pairs)
2023 U.S. pewter medalists
2023 World Junior champions
2022 Junior Grand Prix Final silver medalists
2022 U.S. Pairs Final champions
2022 Junior Grand Prix (Poland 2) bronze medalists
2022 Junior Grand Prix (Czech Republic) champions
Emily Bratti and Ian Somerville (Ice Dance)
2023 U.S. Championships — 5th
2022 IceChallenge champions
2022 Skate Canada International — 6th
2022 Lombardia Trophy — 4th
2022 Lake Placid Ice Dance International — 4th
Jason Brown (Men)
2023 U.S. silver medalist
2023 World Team Trophy — 1st (team)
2023 World Championships — 5th
Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko (Ice Dance)
2023 U.S. bronze medalists
2023 World Championships — 10th
2023 Four Continents Championships — 4th
2022 Golden Spin of Zagreb champions
2022 Grand Prix Espoo — 4th
2022 MK John Wilson Trophy — 10th
Emily Chan and Spencer Howe (Pairs)
2023 U.S. silver medalists
2023 World Championships — 5th
2023 Four Continents Championships silver medalists
2022 Grand Prix Final — 6th
2022 NHK Trophy silver medalists
2022 Skate Canada International silver medalists
2022 U.S. International Classic silver medalists
2022 John Nicks Pairs Challenge silver medalists
Madison Chock and Evan Bates (Ice Dance)
2023 U.S. champions
2023 World Team Trophy — 1st (team)
2023 World champions
2023 Four Continents Championships champions
2022 Grand Prix Final silver medalists
2022 NHK Trophy silver medalists
2022 Skate America champions
Amber Glenn (Women)
2023 U.S. bronze medalist
2023 World Team Trophy — 1st (team)
2023 World Championships — 12th
2023 Four Continents Championships — 7th
2022 NHK Trophy — 11th
2022 Skate America bronze medalist
2022 Lombardia Trophy — 4th
2022 Cranberry Cup bronze medalist
Caroline Green and Michael Parsons (Ice Dance)
2023 U.S. silver medalists
2023 World Championships — 6th
2023 Four Continents Championships — 6th
2022 NHK Trophy bronze medalists
2022 Skate Canada International — 4th
2022 Finlandia Trophy — 5th
Haydenettes (Synchronized)
2023 U.S. champions
2023 World Championships — 5th
2023 Leon Lurje Trophy — 4th
2023 Mozart Cup silver medalists
Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea (Pairs)
2023 U.S. bronze medalists
2023 World Championships — 12th
2023 Four Continents Championships — 6th
2022 Golden Spin of Zagreb silver medalists
2022 IceChallenge champions
Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier (Pairs)
2023 U.S. champions
2023 World Team Trophy — 1st (team)
2023 World silver medalists
2022 Grand Prix Final silver medalists
2022 MK John Wilson Trophy champions
2022 Skate America champions
Josephine Lee (Women)
2023 U.S. Championships — 5th
2023 World Junior Championships – 19th
2023 Pacific Coast Sectional Singles Final champion
2022 Junior Grand Prix (Poland 2) — 7th
2022 Junior Grand Prix (Poland) – 9th
Isabeau Levito (Women)
2023 U.S. champion
2023 World Team Trophy — 1st (team)
2023 World Championships — 4th
2022 Grand Prix Final silver medalist
2022 MK John Wilson Trophy silver medalist
2022 Skate America silver medalist
2022 Ondrej Nepela Memorial champion
2022 Philadelphia Summer International champion
Jimmy Ma (Men)
2023 U.S. Championships — 5th
2023 Coupe du Printemps champion
2023 Four Continents Championships — 9th
2022 MK John Wilson Trophy — 7th
2022 Skate Canada International — 9th
2022 U.S. International Classic — 5th
Ilia Malinin (Men)
2023 U.S. champion
2023 World bronze medalist
2023 World Team Trophy — 1st (team)
2022 Grand Prix Final bronze medalist
2022 Grand Prix Espoo champion
2022 Skate America champion
2022 International Classic champion
Miami University (Synchronized)
2023 U.S. silver medalists
2023 World Championships — 6th
2023 Spring Cup — 6th
2023 Mozart Cup — 5th
Maxim Naumov (Men)
2023 U.S. pewter medalist
2023 Four Continents Championships — 10th
2023 Easter Sectional Singles Final champion
2022 Warsaw Cup — 5th
2022 Budapest Trophy — 5th
Valentina Plazas and Maximiliano Fernandez (Pairs)
2023 U.S. Championships — 5th
2023 Four Continents Championships — 5th
2022 Skate Canada International — 5th
2022 Skate America — 6th
2022 Finlandia Trophy — 5th
2022 U.S. International Classic bronze medalists
2022 John Nicks Pairs Challenge bronze medalists
Skyliners (senior) (Synchronized)
2023 U.S. bronze medalists
2023 Spring Cup — 5th
2023 Neuchatel Trophy bronze medalists
Skyliners (junior) (Synchronized)
2023 U.S. champions
2023 World Junior bronze medalists
2023 Leon Lurje Trophy junior bronze medalists
2023 Mozart Cup junior champions
Bradie Tennell (Women)
2023 U.S. silver medalist
2023 World Championships — 15th
2023 Four Continents Championships — 6th
2023 Golden Spin of Zagreb silver medalist
2022 Grand Prix Espoo — 8th
2022 MK John Wilson Trophy – 12th
Andrew Torgashev (Men)
2023 U.S. bronze medalist
2023 World Championships — 21st
2023 Challenge Cup — 5th
2023 Eastern Sectional Singles Final silver medalist
Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik (Ice Dance)
2023 U.S. pewter medalists
2023 U.S. Ice Dance Final champions
2022 Golden Spin of Zagreb bronze medalists
