Colorado Springs, CO (My Sportsbook) - Nine-time U.S. figure skating champion Michelle Kwan will sit out the upcoming 2009-10 season in order to attend school full time.

Kwan will be pursuing her master's degree in international affairs at Tuft's University just outside of Boston.

"Skating will always be a part of me," Kwan said. "But, in the bigger picture of my life, I have always wanted to find a career that will allow me to make a positive contribution and difference in the world. Representing the United States as an American Public Diplomacy Envoy the past three years has been very rewarding, and I want to do more. Furthering my education will bring me closer to that goal, and I don't want to wait any longer to continue the journey."

A five-time World champion and two-time Olympic medalist, she had last competed in 2005 and was contemplating a return to skating in the hopes of representing the United States in the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

The most decorated figure skater in U.S. history, Kwan won 43 championships, including five World championships (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003), eight consecutive and nine overall U.S. championships (1996, 1998-2005) and two Olympic medals (silver, 1998; bronze, 2002).

She attempted to participate in the 2006 Winter Olympics, but never made it due to a groin injury.

The 29-year-old will skate before an audience for the first time in three years as she joins Yu-Na Kim in Ice All-Stars 2009 in Seoul, South Korea, in August.