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Biden will nominate Michelle Kwan and Caroline Kennedy for ambassador posts

December 16th, 2021

Former Olympian Michelle Kwan speaks before then-candidate Joe Biden at a rally in Manchester, N.H., on Feb. 8, 2020. On Wednesday President Biden said he’ll nominate Kwan for ambassador to Belize.

Joseph Prezioso / AFP via Getty Images

The White House on Wednesday announced President Biden’s intent to nominate Michelle Kwan, the two-time Olympic medalist, to serve as U.S. ambassador to Belize.

Biden will also nominate Caroline Kennedy, a former ambassador to Japan, to serve as ambassador to Australia.

Both women have long worked alongside the Democratic Party, including in support of Biden’s 2020 White House run, and served in various political roles over the years.

This June 19, 2019 file photo shows Caroline Kennedy during the JFK Space Summit at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston. John F. Kennedy’s daughter Caroline will participate in the christening of a new aircraft carrier that’s named after the 35th U.S. president. Newport News Shipbuilding said the christening of the USS John Kennedy will occur Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 at the shipyard in Newport News, Va. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

Kwan, who is the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history, became the first U.S. public diplomacy envoy in 2006 and “for a decade, traveled extensively on behalf of the U.S. Department of State to engage youth around the world on social and educational issues,” according to a White House press release.

Kennedy, a prolific author and daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, served as ambassador to Japan during President Barack Obama’s second term.

As ambassador to Australia, Kennedy would represent the United States to one of the nation’s closest allies and a key strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific.