Nucclo DiNuzzo, Associated Press Michelle Kwan falls during a training session Saturday at the Olympic Games in Turin, Italy. Click photo for larger image. More Olympic Coverage: Popular U.S. speed skater bumped off in semifinals of 1,500 meters Hughes gets surprise call to ice after Kwan withdraws

TURIN, Italy -- Michelle Kwan's Olympic career probably has come to an end.

It didn't come with her capturing the gold medal at these, her third Winter Games, to crown a magnificent figure skating career that has included five world and nine United States championships and a silver medal and a bronze in the Olympics.

Instead, she was in the training room at the athletes' Olympic village at 2:15 a.m., hearing yesterday from a doctor she did not know that, based on her latest injury, it would be best if she did not compete.

"Tough night," Kwan said softly but grimly about nine hours later in a news conference to announce her withdrawal from the Games because of a groin pull and the activation of 17-year-old Emily Hughes to take her place in the women's field.

"I had to make a decision," Kwan said. "I would love to compete in my third Olympics, but I love and respect the sport and I think it's all about the United States having their best team here at the Games. I wouldn't want to be in the way of that."

Kwan planned to return home to Los Angeles rather than remain here, but that's as far into the future as she had thought.

By the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, Kwan will be 29, ancient by the sport's standards. Competing there also would mean another four years of training and competing and trying to avoid injuries.

"Michelle Kwan means more to the United States Olympic Committee than maybe any athlete that's ever performed for the [USOC]," said Peter Ueberroth, chairman of the USOC, sounding a lot like he believes Kwan's career might be nearing or at its end.

"She's been a leader. She's been gracious. She's somebody that cares for so many youngsters that are training in our country. She's a real loss to all of the United States Olympic Committee, to the United States of America and, I think, to the world. She's made a gracious decision."

Kwan said she sufficiently was recovered from an earlier groin pull when she left Los Angeles late last week to travel to the Olympics. She first indicated her latest problem Saturday, when she said practice that morning hadn't gone well because she was stiff and sore from being outdoors for the opening ceremony a night earlier.

She attempted a few jumps and thinks it was a triple flip that caused the injury. Over the course of the day, and despite extensive routine treatment, Kwan's groin pain got worse. By late that night, she sought help.

Jim Moeller, a USOC physician from Troy, Mich., arrived at the training room at 2:15. He said his examination took about 15 minutes.

"With this type of injury in her sport at her level, we felt that to continue to train and compete would put her at risk of permanent injury, and so it was our recommendation that she consider withdrawing at that point," Moeller said, adding that "this type of injury is not career threatening. We expect her to make a full recovery with time and proper rehabilitation."

Kwan refused to second-guess her decision to walk with the other athletes in the opening ceremony or to practice Saturday despite being stiff.

"I was going about my business, enjoying the whole Olympic experience," she said. "And it's the Olympics; you've got to push."

This time, she might have pushed too hard.

Injuries have been a bane for Kwan the past year. She missed most of the 2005 season because of a hip injury. She skipped the national championships a month ago because of a pulled groin she got in December.

She petitioned U.S. Figure Skating for a spot on the Olympic team, and the organization granted her wish, bumping Hughes, the national championships bronze medalist. The thinking was that Kwan, if healthy, gave the United States the best chance of a medal in Turin.

On Jan. 27, Kwan went through a formal evaluation and skated her long and short programs well enough that U.S. Figure Skating was satisfied she was fit for the Olympics.

Now, the Olympics will go on without her.

"I have no regrets," Kwan said of her career to this point. "I tried my hardest. And if I don't win a gold, it's OK. I've had a great career and been very lucky."