NEW YORK - Faced with the loss of its biggest Winter Olympics star only two days into the Turin Games, NBC tried to keep Michelle Kwan — in the broadcast booth.

Kwan turned down the job offer, saying she didn't want to be a distraction for the remaining members of the U.S. Olympic figure skating team, NBC Sports spokesman Michael McCarley said Sunday.

The star withdrew from the Olympics on Sunday because of a strained groin muscle, ending her quest for her first gold medal in what was expected to be one of the most compelling stories in Turin.