How You Became a Sarah Fan
(4-1-02) Shirley
Since 1988 Winter Olympics, I've been interested in figure skating as an Olympic sport, but in the fall of 1997, my husband and I became more interested and learned that there are a lot more figure skating events than just at the Olympics. After the 1998 Olympics, we became Tara fans. We also began learning more and more about the various elements of skating including how to recognize the different jumps. I saw a glimpse of something about Sarah on TV sometime in 1998; then we saw her 1999 Worlds performance and began to follow her skating ever since. We are now whole-hearted Sarah fans! (My husband even more than me, perhaps!) I sort of had her picked out after the 1998 Olympics to be the next gold medal winner after Tara (her name even rhymes!), but it really exceeded my expectations that she actually did win. And her performance was like nothing we'd ever seen before in skating! I thought Tara's Olympic long program was the best ever in 1998, but unbelievably, Sarah's performance even topped that! I'm sorry she had to withdraw from Worlds, so we hope she can come back next season and win some more gold medals. CONGRATULATIONS SARAH!!!
(4-1-02) Melissa
I`ve always like figure skating but never really like a skater till Sarah.
After she won I saw her on a lot of shows and saw what I great person she was
. After Salt Lake City I thought I would never see her again, and once I
heard she was going to be on Dateline and Rosie I just had to tape it so I
did and now I watch it almost every day.
I really hope she comes back to the Olympics because I really enjoy seeing
her skate. So if Sarah reads this story it comes from my heart, And the
greatest gift she could ever give me would be if I could meet her sometime.
(3-29-02) Claire
Well The story all starts at the last Olympics in Nagano, Japan. I was 8 then and I was a huge Tara Lipinski fan. I always wanted to ice skate but there were no close rinks. So, being little and stupid as I was, I "pretended" to ice skate i my kitchen in my socks. I dreamed of doing the best performance ever at the Olmpics and being the worlds best skater. Well after the olympics the dream faded. And until the Salt Lake City, Utah olympcis it all came back. I was A fan of Michelle Kwan at these olypmics. But at the Long Finals, I watched Sarah Skate. That brought all my memrories back. When I was little, that is how i dreamed of skating, skating perfectly like that, like Sarah Did. And i still want to Ice Skate more than anything in the world, but watching Sarah Hughes is enough for me now.
(3-28-02) Betty
I first saw Sarah win the junior title and have been a fan every since. Her poise, her naturalness and great athletic ability have proven what a great star she is. I was so excited when I saw Sarah win the Olympic Gold Medal. She certainly deserved it!
Congratulations Sarah from a fan, old enough to be your grandmother, but a lover of figure skating at it's finest. Bless you Sarah! You have given all of us something to be proud of.
(3-27-02) Jim
My name is Jim, and I am 40 years old. While I am more of a Michelle Kwan
fan, I became a fan of Sarah after seeing her skate for the first time at
the U.S. Nationals. Sarah has the potential to win another Gold in 2006 if
she stays healthy and wants to compete. (I really would love for Michelle
to win a Gold at the Olympics, but it might not happen.) Also, Sarah has
the potential to win more Gold medals at future World Championships and U.S.
Nationals. She skates like an angel and just floats on the ice. I also
like Sarah skating to Vanessa Mae, who I think is a great violinist. I also
loved Sarah's tribute to the 9/11 victims during the Olympic Exhibition
Skate. What impresses me even more about Sarah is that for a 16 year old
she displays a lot of maturity and is an excellent student. I also really
respect her parents. I use to play hockey in college and like the fact her
father was a goalie for Cornell. (It is also great that he became an
attorney). I am even more impressed with what her mother has gone through
with her cancer. God Bless Sarah and her family.
Sarah will be great at whatever she does, like maybe the doctor she is
thinking about. To me, she does look like Reba McIntyre. I also hope that
her and Michelle stay as good friends. While skating during competitions,
they can be competitors. But, after the events, they should be good pals.
We need good role models in sports today. I feel that Sarah along with
Michelle lead the way. Let's hope they continue to skate and win many, many
medals for themselves and the U.S.A.
(3-26-02) Jaims
I had been a Tara Lipinski Fan for a very long time, and when she turned pro after winning gold in 98 Nagano Games, I wanted a new Skater to be a fan to. While watching the 99 Nationals I became a Sarah Hughes Fan, and still am to this day. I really knew that she was going to win the Olympics (the same as I did with Tara in 98) even though none of my friends believed me...Even after she finished in 4th after the short, I still knew that she'd win. And then she did!!! It was amazing...the best performance by a skater I've ever seen! Now my parents say as far as skating goes, I sure know how to pick them...
(3-20-02) Wayne
Like some of the others here, I became a dedicated fan of Sarah Hughes
before her Olympic grandeur. It was during a performance in 2000 that I
began to take serious notice and discovered something special. I instantly
saw in her something that was unlike anything I had witnessed before. When
she skated, I saw a fire that burned in her that just made her glow with
such aura and power that it just left me in awe. From then on, I knew she
would achieve the level of excellence which has now been bestowed upon her.
To see this passion displayed in the Olympics with such grace and finesse
was just the icing on the cake. I knew from the beginning that she would
*earn* the gold; I believed it the entire time. Her extreme commitment to
excellence, hard work and dedication is something everyone can aspire to.
Recently I was lucky enough to get a copy of the broadcasted town parade
and got to see Sarah speak. Once again I was moved to tears by this
performance. I won't reiterate everything, but one part that really
touched me was the part about remembering those you stood by you and helped
you get where you are and how, with strong passion and determination, one
can achieve their dreams/goals. This is extremely good to hear and
remember during these trying times (post 9/11). Beginning this month and for
now on, I have displayed a picture of Sarah in my cubicle at work as a
reminder of this speech and how I can continue to "light my fire
within" (2002 Olympic theme). Sarah's breed is hard to find and stands as
*the* benchmark for humanity. If there anything that is sad about Sarah's
accomplishments, it is the fact that she has now become a full-fledge star,
which makes her less accessible. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but
ordinary people like me might not get the chance to speak to her in person.
All I can do is hope to get an autograph when I go to Champions on Ice.
In the meantime, I plan on collecting everything that has to do with her
and tell others that are not in the know about her inspiring triumph.
Sarah truly is "#1 on the ice and #1 in our hearts"!!! God Bless Sarah
Hughes and watch over her always!!!
(3-20-02) Joshua
Hi my name is Joshua Gersman. I live in Great Neck. I became a Sarah Hughes fan when she won the gold. I was very shock. I didn't know how she did it. Before I became a Sarah Hughes fan, I was a Tara Lipinski fan, but I am not her fan anymore because Sarah Hughes is from my hometown and she made Great Neck very popular. I just graduated from Great Neck North High School last year, and I can't believe that she goes to my school. I have pictures of her, in my room. I am very lucky to be a Great Necker. I hope she will be able to skate at the Parkwood skateing rink again. Sarah you made everybody in Great Neck very proud, including me, and I am glad to have a figure skater like you living in my hometown.
(3-19-02) Wayne
Add my name to the list of "adult males" who became an instant Sarah Hughes fan during the 2002 Olympics. Prior to the women's long program, I didn't know Sarah Hughes from Howard Hughes. I don't usually follow figure skating except during the Olympics where there always seems to be some special story in play. In 2002 there was the pairs judging controversy and all the ladies hype was about Michelle Kwan and how she was finally going to ascend to the throne as the Olympic Champion. After the short program Michelle was right where she was expected to be - in first place. NBC tried to keep interest alive in the Women's Final by insisting that any one of the top three could win the gold - little mention was made of anyone in fourth place or below. I started watching the final group sitting up in bed surrounded by a pile of income tax paperwork. After the first skater's lackluster performance I was about to flip the channel to something interesting when Sarah Hughes took the ice. The crowd roared, Sarah smiled, and then set her "gameface" to perform - an electric entry. Who was this I wondered? I was mesmerized over the next four minutes. Unlike most skating performances I had seen - lots of spins and arm waving - this was a magnificent display of pure athleticism. Sarah nailed jump after jump (I held my breath every time she left the ice), smiling and squealing like the 16-year-old she was. The crowd began to cheer after she landed her last triple and by the time she went into her final spins the applause was as loud as the music. When Sarah finished with a smile of exhaustion, elation and disbelief, my tax papers where spread everywhere and I was at the end of the bed with my hands in the air signaling "touchdown"! I couldn't believe what I had just seen. Sarah had brought the house down, she is bowing to the audience for the nth time, Robin Wagner is hyperventilating and jumping out of control - is this a Disney movie I'm watching! It was better than a Disney story - this was for real. We all know the final results: Sarah Hughes, Gold Medallist. She was not afraid to fail or to succeed and skated with a pure joy seldom seen in such a pressure packed situation. Since that night I have searched numerous web sites for articles and info on Sarah. The truth is even more unreal - she lives at home, a product of loving parents not a "skating factory" in some far away state, she is an honor student at the local high school, and she has real big plans like getting her driver's license and scoring high on the SAT test. The US Hockey team was the "miracle on ice" at the 1980 Olympics, Sarah Hughes was the "magic on ice" at the 2002 Olympics.
(3-17-02) Brent
It is really quite awkward how I became a Sarah Hughes
fan, because the fact is, I can't remember. There was
one time a couple of years ago where there was a tiny
blurb and picture about her in a Parade or USA weekend
magazine. I do remember when I saw it thinking she
was someone who deserved special attention be paid to,
turned out to be so. Since the Olympics though, I've
paid a little more attention to figure skating, and I
may even try it out myself. I owe the opening of my
mind to something new to her.
(3-15-02) Matthew
I work and live in Great Neck and I am also a volunteer firefighter which I had the privlage to participate in the Parade for her March 10, 2002. I always heard about Sarah, but I never was interested in Figure Skating until the night she won the Gold! My wife and I were on the edge of our seats through the whole program. The last time I was on the edge of my seat is when the Buffalo Bills lost the Super Bowl against the Giants back in the 90's. After hearing about her story of rising through her figure skating career and how her story of her teriffic close knit family, I can now say I am a figure skating addict and a Sarah Hughes fan. I wish her and her whole family the best of luck in their future and God Bless...... P.S. I hope to rear my Son in life, the way Sarah's parents raised her.....with Love, Compassion, and to be the best YOU can be.
(3-13-02) Jessica
Hi, my name is Jessica A. Bruno. Anyway, how I became a fan of Sarah
Huges was in 1999 during the nationals as I remember. It was after Tara
Lipinski turn pro. I wasn't that interested in her because I was in Naomi
Nari Nam then in 2000 Sasha Cohen, Naomi Nari Nam again, then 2001 no one
because Naomi Nari Nam and Sasha Cohen were both injury, and I forgot about
Sarah. Then 2002 I started to pay attention to her. The rest is history.
Thank you for this feature.
(3-13-02) Dara
I became a Sarah fan after the 1998 Olympics. I was a huge Tara Lipinski
fan, but when she turned pro, I quickly lost interest in her. Over the
summer, Skating Magazine always does profiles on the Junior national
champions in all the disciplines. Well, I read Sarah's and was intrigued.
She was only 12! I immediately adopted Sarah as my new favorite skater
and my love and respect for her has only grown since. When she was fourth
after short at the Olympics, I said to everyone, "You'll see, it'll work
out just fine," and I was right! I was in shock when she won and I am so
proud of her. She is an amazingly well-rounded young woman and I have the
utmost respect for such a talented skater!
(3-9-02) Kim
I became a Sarah fan after the Olympics. I was never really into figure skating before then. I would see it on the television and turn it off. After watching Sarah skate, she completely turned me around. Her grace and energy on the ice and her passion for the sport was unbelievable. With her upset win over Michelle Kwan and the ordeal with the Canadians and the Russians totally got me into skating. Now I'm looking at every skating website I can find. I am hoping to go to a Champions On Ice show and I am praying she will be there. I am getting the NBC video because I didn't get to see all of the performances. I can't wait to get it!
(3-9-02) Bill
Like most people, I don't know very much about figure skating. Every
year, however, I go to the "Champions On Ice" show, because my daughter
loves it, and I love spending the day with my daughter. And every year
I am thankful for the parts of the show that the non-fan can
appreciate. One of those parts has been when a particular teenager took
to the ice with a smile (braces and all) that lit up the arena. All of
America now knows this teenager - Sarah Hughes.
Even from a distance, one could see enough of Sarah's personality come
through that you wanted to root for her. She seemed much less the
programmed, packaged, prima donna ice princess and more like a normal
kid who was actually having fun doing something she loved. But how
could that be so? Much of my experience in youth sports as an athlete,
parent and coach has shown a significant correlation between the talent
of the athlete and his/her score on the insufferable brat scale (which,
amazing as it is, is often exceeded by the parents). By the time a kid
hits double figures in touchdowns, shutouts or goals scored, it seems,
there's an agent involved and a demand for a separate dressing room.
It was all the more special to watch Sarah Hughes skate joyfully into
history, then actually witness her realize and accept the reward she had
earned with the girlish exuberance that one might expect from a teenager
(all the while wearing a costume that one would actually NOT be
embarrassed to have one's teenager wear in front of several hundred
million people). In the days after the Olympics, we have been able to
see and hear Sarah in a number of different venues, and have seen for
ourselves and heard others describe her as a "nice, normal girl," who
actually goes to a real high school in a real community, has real
friends and a real family life. In a way I suppose it's sad that we are
so thrilled to find that an athlete can reach such an astonishing level
of achievement without having to trade away her childhood and teenage
years in the bargain. Thank goodness it seems that Sarah finds herself
in a position to not only enjoy the reward for her talent, hard work and
sacrifice, but to look back without regret and forward to a great future
ahead of her.
Almost as amazing as Sarah's accomplishment on the ice, then, is the
accomplishment of her parents in support of her. As a parent, I wish I
had a gold medal to award to the Hughes for their ability to walk the
fine line between encouragement and the craziness we see in "little
league parents" without being tripped up by it. As much as Sarah is a
role model for her peers, her parents are role models for those of us
who struggle with how to foster the talents and passions of our children
without trying to substitute our own. I admire how they have avoided
the spotlight for themselves, and hope that the Hughes family is able to
both fully enjoy the satisfaction of their success and feel the warmth
of appreciation that so many of us feel for them. Sarah has taught us
to always attack the task at hand as if you are in "fourth place."
There are others who will share their advice on how to produce a great
figure skater. If the Hughes ever choose a vehicle with which to share
how they have helped to produce a great kid, I'll be first in line.
So, this year when my daughter and I go to the "Champions On Ice" show,
perhaps she will hang around after the show to try to get Sarah Hughes'
autograph. If they are in the audience that day, maybe I'll try for her
parents'.
(3-9-02) ABACONW
I actually watched the competition to see Michelle Kwan win the gold because I felt sorry for her losing the gold at Nagano but once I saw sarah's performance I became an instant fan of someone who could perform that well and yet be just a normal person. I wonder if anyone other than me has ever noticed how much she reminds me of a young Reba MacIntyre though?
(3-8-02) Ted
I first fell in love with Sarah's skating at the 1999 World Championships.
It is said that Sarah had worked very hard on her presentation between the
1999 Nationals and the 1999 Worlds. I had been aware of Sarah as a skater
for about a year before that time and had not really given much thought to
her, but the birth of her sensational elegance and artistry in her
performances at the 1999 Worlds truly caught my eye. Since that time, Sarah
has become my favorite skater of all time. In my opinion, her elegance on
the ice is unparalleled by anyone and many of her moves on the ice the best
of any lady in the world. These best moves include her layback spin, her
double axel jump, her falling leaf split jump, her spins in general, the flow
on her jump landings, and her flow over the ice in general. Up until last
October, however, I had never seen Sarah skate in person. Now I have had the
opportunity to have seen her skate at Skate America, at US Nationals, and at
the Olympics. Finally being able to see Sarah skate in person was wonderful
and seeing Sarah win the gold medal at the Olympics was a dream come true for
me! And not only is Sarah truly one of the finest skaters in the world, but
she would also appear to be one of the finest human beings in the world as
well. I really appreciate her class on and off the ice. I really enjoyed
Sarah's reaction to winning the gold medal and I truly enjoyed her demeanor
in the interviews afterward. How many gold medal winners giggle when they
are introduced on the air during an interview as the Olympic gold medalist?
To me that was precious and was very much the true Sarah. I am so proud of
Sarah for everything! I am very much looking forward to seeing her most
bright future in figure skating and in life unfold over the next several
years.
(3-8-02) Fawn
I first saw Sarah skate about two years or so back. I remember her being in braces and pink, and thinking to myself, 'Hmmm. Got to keep my eyes on this one.' Something to that effect. I'm not even sure she wore pink. All I know is that something about her caught my attention. Oddly enough, from that event until early this year, I'm drawing a huge blank. I remember nothing about her. Strange. Knowing that the Olympics were coming up, I watched nationals, and was thrilled that she made the team, though, apparently, she wasn't as thrilled as I. After her Olympic short program, I was happy enough. I figured she'd finish fourth, and medal in 2006. Foolish, foolish me! O ye of little faith! I honestly think that due to the excruciating perfection of her long program that I temporarily lost touch with reality, until the flowers and stuffed animals started raining down. Like a soldier, I snapped to my feet and stood for the next thirty minutes, desperately trying to figure out how many mistakes each successive skater needed to make so that you-know-who could go home with the gold. Joy upon joy visited me, when, first, Cohen fell, then Kwan, then Slutskya bobbled just enough, and skated with her usual lack of artistry. Folks, I'm not ashamed to say the I was giddy, just giddy. I yelled when she won. I couldn't have been more excited had I won the thing myself! And watching her and her coach's reaction to the news was priceless. As she took the podium, I sort of panicked, thinking, 'God. What next? What is she going to do next? Where does she go form here?' I'm not sure that it really matters. She's given us so much already. But I, in my infinite greed, want more.
(3-8-02) Julie
I became a fan when I watched the 1999 US Nationals where she placed 4th and then got to go to Worlds. I have been a fan ever since and I have been cheering for her at every event I know she goes to. I was so thrilled as I watch her when the Olympic Gold medal.
(3-8-02) John
Boy, I don't follow the amateur sport ranks very much. I observed Sarah for the first time this year in the Olympics. During her performances, I knew there was something very special about her. I think it is her ability to skate at her best and yet have one whale of a good time doing it. Her last skate, I knew that was a winner. If any one of the other miffed just a little, Sarah could be at the top. It was a long shot, but it could be and IT WAS! I guess I recognized a great deal of my daughter ( now in her 30's, for goodness sake) in Sarah. My daughter was a four-time All American gymnast in college. She had that special quality of determination, concentration, and execution. Yet she let everyone know she was having a ball. Congrats, Sarah. You entertain wonderfully and warm our hearts as well. Good luck and God bless you in your future years. John Dunn, Charlotte, NC
(3-7-02) Adam
I became a Sarah Hughes fan when I first saw her on the Olympics. I had
never really cared one way or another about skating untill I saw her long
program, and her radiant energy. She was so incredibly graceful, it held me
transfixed. Because of that, I wrote her a string quartet to celebrate and
(if I'm lucky) play violin on and skate to. She just ROCKS!
(3-7-02) Jake
I became a diehard Sarah fan in just the last two weeks. When I was watching the long programs you could have cut the tension with a knife. I can't wait until the NBC videos of the figure skating competion and exhibition come sometime in April.
(3-6-02) Camilo
Hi i'm Camilo from Chile and I have 16.
well that afternoon i turn on the tv and i watch the olympics of winter.all was normal after that moment .she and her perfomance.thats is art and a girl of that kinds is my perfect girl.what she does is beautifull and she is so cute too.and i see she her for casualty in the gramys with the backstreet boys(aggghhh)that night she was so cute too.well i can't say more.
bye all of you sarah fans
good luck sarah.of your first Chilean Fan
(3-6-02) Linda
It took me awhile to become a Sarah fan, basically by hearing about her from television. I have watched the Olympics Ice Skating since about forever, and I have cheered when my favorites won, and cried when they lost, or had accidents that put them out of the running for an award. The skating part of this Olympics, was as exciting as a soap opera, given the incident with the Canadians and Russians, I was spitting nickels when that happened, but things after that went a bit downhill and I did not enjoy any other skating event after that. THEN Sarah came into the mix, and WOW!!!!! Our local girl knocked their socks off!!!! I was yelling ALRIGHT SARAH!!!!! when she got the gold, I jumped up out of my seat, and scared the cat!!
We here in New York needed Sarah to win the GOLD, she has brought pride and happiness and the feeling of just being so darn proud of her to the city, after what we been through, (9/11) she deserves all the thanks in the world! Just wait till you see the parade we have waiting for her!!!!!
(3-6-02) Hayley
I first became a fan of Sarah's during the Olympics. I had never heard of her before and obviously was very impressed with her performance. I didn't know much about her but I have learned a lot from your website. I just got tickets to the Champions on Ice tour. I am praying that she'll be there when it comes because I really want to see her skate!!
(3-5-02) Liz
I first saw Sarah skate in person at the 2001 Nationals in Boston. I was immediately taken aback by her gracefullness, fluidity, and artistry on the ice. I have followed her since that event and have rooted for her in every competition. When everyone assumed that Michelle would win the gold medal at the Olympics, I quietly prayed that Sarah would win. Deep in my heart I knew she could do it, because she is the better skater - more skilled, more talented, much more modest, and definitely real. Congratulations, Sarah, and keep up the great work!
(3-4-02) David
I liked Sarah Hughes before the Olympics. She seemed to be a young woman who
had a great attitude and character. While my wife and I admired the
athleticism of Sasha Cohen and her stunning short program/world debut, she
seemed a little bit "full of herself" and too driven to achieve. Compare that
to the grace and elegance of Sarah's character. When she wound up in 4th
place after the short program, my wife and I were disappointed and knew her
chances of medalling were hard, but not impossible. Maybe a bronze, hey, any
medal would be neat. So when she went out and skated the long program with
"nothing to lose" it was probably one of the most special moments in
sports I have ever seen (and I would agree with another person's comment that
it was the most special skating moment since Elizabeth Manley's surprise
silver medal in Calgary). What Sarah experienced is a special moment of God's
grace, a gift to her, and to all of us. To experience such a special
performance, and then to experience the sheer joy afterward with her coach
(not to mention "the scream" after Irina's marks made Sarah the winner) was
such a moment of surprise joy that we all needed. It was so special because
it was so unexpected that night. The odds were against Sarah, and she just
skated for the joy, and we all started to root for her the moment her program
ended. Don't the most wonderful surprises make us the most happy? I only wish
that we had taped the show that night. Guess we'll have to buy the NBC video.
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