Sarah Hughes

1. Overview

Sarah Elizabeth Hughes (born May 2, 1985) is a former American competitive figure skater. Renowned for her technical prowess and artistry, she achieved her career's pinnacle by winning the gold medal in ladies' singles at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, a victory widely considered one of the biggest upsets in the sport's history. She also earned a bronze medal at the 2001 World Figure Skating Championships. Following her distinguished skating career, Hughes pursued higher education, attending Yale University, the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and Stanford University. Beyond her academic and professional endeavors, she has dedicated herself to various social causes, including breast cancer awareness and supporting programs for youth, and briefly engaged in politics by attempting a run for the United States Congress.

2. Early Life and Education

Sarah Elizabeth Hughes was born on May 2, 1985, in Great Neck, New York, a suburb located on Long Island. She is the fourth of six children born to John Hughes, an Irish-descended Canadian who was a captain of the undefeated 1969-70 Cornell University ice hockey team, and Amy Pastarnack, an American Jewish accountant and breast cancer survivor. Her mother's experience with breast cancer profoundly influenced Hughes, inspiring her to become a dedicated advocate for breast cancer awareness.

Hughes began her journey in figure skating at the young age of three, influenced by her older siblings. Her primary coach, Robin Wagner, who also choreographed her programs from 1994, became her head coach in January 1998. Sarah's younger sister, Emily Hughes, also became a figure skater and competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics. Sarah is also a cousin of Gregg "Opie" Hughes from the Opie and Anthony radio show.

She attended Great Neck North High School. In 2003, Hughes began her higher education at Yale University, where she was a student in Timothy Dwight College. She graduated from Yale on May 25, 2009, earning a bachelor's degree in American studies with a concentration in U.S. politics and communities. Her pursuit of education continued, leading her to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania Law School on May 15, 2018. As of May 2023, Hughes was further advancing her academic qualifications by pursuing a business degree at Stanford University. She is also a fan of the New York Mets baseball team.

3. Skating Career

Sarah Hughes's skating career spanned significant achievements at both the junior and senior levels, culminating in an Olympic gold medal. She began her competitive journey in junior events before transitioning to the senior circuit, where she consistently vied for top honors on national and international stages.

3.3. 2002 Winter Olympics

The 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City marked the most significant achievement of Sarah Hughes's career, as she won the gold medal in ladies' singles in what was widely regarded as one of the biggest upsets in figure skating history. As the youngest skater in the competition, she was not considered a strong contender against the favorites, including her teammate Michelle Kwan and Russia's Irina Slutskaya.

In the short program, Hughes performed admirably but placed fourth, putting her in a challenging position for gold. However, her free skate performance was flawless and historic. She became the first woman in Olympic history to successfully land two different triple jump-triple jump combinations in a four-minute free skate: a triple salchow-triple loop and a triple toe-triple loop. While her Lutz jump had a slight flaw, the high technical difficulty and successful execution of her jump combinations were crucial.

The competition took a dramatic turn when the skaters who had finished ahead of Hughes in the short program-Kwan, Slutskaya, and Sasha Cohen-all made significant errors in their free skates. Kwan, who was in first place after the short program, made several mistakes, including a fall. Slutskaya, in second, also had a shaky performance, losing balance on a triple flip. These errors paved the way for Hughes. Her consistent technical elements, combined with her artistry, above-average edge quality, and strong ice coverage, established her as a "strong all-around skater" and ultimately secured her an unexpected and triumphant gold medal.

4. Skating Technique

Sarah Hughes was known for her distinctive and technically challenging skating style, which set her apart from many of her competitors. A hallmark of her technique was the consistent execution of a variety of triple-triple jump combinations. These included a triple loop-triple loop, a triple salchow-triple loop, and a triple toe-triple loop. She often performed her triple loop jump out of and following a back spiral.

In addition to her formidable jumping ability, Hughes was recognized for her refined spin positions, notably her camel spin executed with a change of edge, and her elegant spiral position. A unique aspect of her technique was her execution of both jumps and spins in a clockwise direction, which is uncommon among most figure skaters who typically perform these elements counter-clockwise.

5. Post-Skating Career and Later Life

Following her competitive skating career, Sarah Hughes embarked on a diverse path, focusing on higher education, professional endeavors, and significant public and political activities.

6. Awards and Honors

Sarah Hughes has received numerous significant awards and honors recognizing her achievements in figure skating and her contributions beyond the sport.

In 2003, she was awarded the James E. Sullivan Award, an honor presented annually to the top amateur athlete in the United States. She was the third figure skater to receive this prestigious award, following Dick Button (1949) and Michelle Kwan (2001).

In 2005, Hughes was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, acknowledging her heritage and athletic accomplishments.

Following her dramatic Olympic gold medal victory in 2002, her hometown of Great Neck, New York, celebrated her achievement with a parade. During this event, Hillary Clinton, then a U.S. Senator from New York, spoke and declared March 2, 2002, as "Sarah Hughes Day" in her honor. U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and Governor of New York George Pataki also attended the celebration.

Her remarkable story and Olympic triumph were chronicled in the biography Sudden Champion: The Sarah Hughes Story, written by Richard Krawiec and published in 2002.

7. Programs