Who is Michelle Kwan's ex-husband Clay Pell?
Emma Powell
Published Aug 23, 2026
DECORATED figure skater, Michelle Kwan, and her ex-husband Clay Pell announced their engagement in September of 2012.
Pell took Kwan by surprise when he declared he was filing for divorce from the Olympic medalist on Twitter in March of 2017.
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Who is Michelle Kwan's ex-husband Clay Pell?
Clay Pell, real name Herbert Claiborne Pell IV, is a lawyer and politician from Tucson, Arizona.
He previously served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for International and Foreign Language Education in the United States Department of Education.
In 2013, Pell married five-time world champion, Michelle Kwan.
One year later, he confirmed he would run for Governor of Rhode Island, however, he placed third in the Democratic primary.
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When did they divorce?
According to reports, Pell blindsided Kwan on March 29, 2017 by filing for a divorce "without warning".
Kwan apparently learned of Pell's filing via a tweet that was followed by an article in the New York Daily News.
In a statement at the time, Pell said: "It is with deep regret that I share that Michelle and my marriage is coming to an end.
"This is a sad and difficult turn of events for our family. I love Michelle, and wish her the very best as her life takes her in a new direction.”
Pell remarried in 2021 to his former high school classmate Youna Kim.
Do Michelle Kwan and Clay Pell have any children together?
Michelle Kwan and Clay Pell do not have any children together.
On Wednesday, January 5 of 2022, the ice skater announced the birth of her first child, through Instagram.
On her Instagram post, Kwan revealed her baby girl's name is Kalista Belle Kwan.
Kwan shared: "I'm overjoyed and tears of happiness are streaming down my face as I share the news."
She continued: "I've always wanted to be a mom and, to me, she's a perfect miracle."
"I had a hard time picturing what she might look like yet it seems like she's been in my life forever. This has been a challenging journey to motherhood (not to mention a very long labor!!!) and I'm glad I never gave up," the Olympic medalist went on to say.
"As people closest to me know, I'm always full of surprises and tend to keep my personal life private."
"And, I've wanted to share this happy news for many months but each milestone seemed to be exciting and daunting at the same time."
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Michelle Kwan did not disclose the identity of her daughter's father on Instagram, but continued to thank her family and loved ones on her post.
"I feel so grateful to have had the support of so many during this time, including doctors and nurses who looked after me, friends that shared their stories, and of course, my family & my [heart emoji] who I could not live without," she concluded.
