By Sandra Birungi

Michelle Kwan got married to Clay Pell Saturday in a private ceremony in Rhode Island.

Olympic medalist figure skater Kwan got married to the grandson of the late U.S. Sen. Claiborne Pell have married in Rhode Island.

Kwan and Coast Guard Lt. Clay Pell married at the First Unitarian Church in Providence with about 250 guests attending, including Gov. Lincoln Chafee (CHAY’-fee) and his wife. Uniformed police officers stood guard outside the church Saturday as the 32-year-old Kwan and her bridesmaid emerged from a club across the street.

Kwan is a public policy envoy with the Department of State and the most decorated figure skater in American history with 43 championships to her name, the silver medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics and bronze at the 2002 Games. Pell, 31, is a State Department appointee,Coast Guard lieutenant, White House national security staffer.

The two met while they were applying for a prestigious White House fellowship which he got but she didn’t. Other guests included Brian Boitano and Dorothy Hamill. Kwan’s gown was made by Vera Wang, who also designed many skating costumes for her over the years.