SportsLine wire reports

SALT LAKE CITY -- Michelle Kwan probably could have won her third national title wearing snowshoes.

To her credit, the two-time world champion was unaffected by the lack of competition at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Her superb free skate, marred only by a late fall on a triple lutz she didn't need, was plenty good Saturday night.

"It was one of those performances where I just let it go," said Kwan.

Kwan, who has won the U.S. title in 1996, '98 and this year, made her other six triple jumps, including a triple toe loop-triple toe loop combination, look effortless. Her spins were precise and she ignored her fall to finish strongly with a series of spins.

"I don't know what happened. I thought I had it," she said of the fall.

"I was straight in the air. I guess I just didn't check out, but I knew to get right back up and keep on going.

"From the beginning, my goal was to do the triple-triple, because I haven't done it in a year or maybe more," added Kwan, 18, of Torrance, Calif.

"It was gorgeous," added coach Frank Carroll.

Michelle Kwan also won U.S. titles in 1996 and '98. (AP)

Her routine to Ariane earned 10 5.9s and the rest 5.8s.

The performance was, by far, the highlight of a night on which many skaters couldn't even land one triple jump.