2/21/2001 Today Show Appearance
Interviewer: Katie Couric (KC)
KC: When she was 11, a wide-eyed figure skater from Long Island named Sarah Hughes, took home the North Atlantic Novice Regional Figure Skating Title. Now just four years later, Hughes placed second to veteran Michelle Kwan at last month's US National Championships. And she's being touted as a medal contender for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Sarah Hughes, good morning! Welcome! Nice to see you, Sarah! I know that skating is sort of a family affair for the Hughes family. Tell me about that.
Sarah: Oh, it was so much fun when we were younger. We all used to go skating together and my brothers played hockey. I just wanted to do whatever they did so...
KC: So you decided you had to put some skates on and you put on figure skates instead of hockey skates. And your dad, I should mention, was the captain of the Cornell hockey team. And I guess you're one of 6 kids and 5 out of the 6 are big skaters, right? Two of your sisters skate as well, but your mom can't skate at all.
Sarah: Yeah, she's not talented in that area. (laughs)
KC: Well, I'm sure she'll appreciate us pointing that out! She must feel a little left out, does she?
Sarah: No, I think she enjoys watching us. It's very cold in the rink.
KC: Yeah, that's true. It takes such dedication to be a figure skater and I know that you've been skating since you were 3 years old. Was there a point in time, Sarah, where you decided 'This is going to be more than a hobby for me. I really want to give this my all.'?
Sarah: You know, when I was younger, I just loved to skate and as long as I love to skate I'll keep skating and I don't really think too much about that.
KC: How many hours a day, for example, do you skate now?
Sarah: I skate about 6 days a week, for about 2.5 hours a day to 3 hours.
KC: Does it ever get to be a real pain and a lot of work and something you dread? (Sarah giggles) I know, seriously, because I don't think people realize how much self discipline you have to have and how much hard work it is to get to your level of skating.
Sarah: Yeah it's really difficult, and I think in anything anybody does some days you're just like, "Ugh, I just want to stay in bed all day" or something or, "I don't feel like doing it," but you know, in the end I really love to skate and once I get out there I realize that.
KC: Have you had a lot of injuries through the years, Sarah, or not too many?
Sarah: You know, I've been pretty lucky, knock on wood, that I've been healthy and I take really good care of myself and try and do everything i can to prevent it like stretching and proper sleep, you know stuff like that.
KC: Right, Right, And it can be a very dangerous sport as well.
Sarah: Yeah.
KC: As I mentioned in your introduction, you came in 2nd at the Nationals this year--2nd to Michelle Kwan. I know you've sort of always looked at Michelle Kwan as someone you've admired..you've always put on a pedestal. What was it like coming in second to someone who is such a veteran skater?
Sarah: Yeah, Michelle is really nice to me. I think she's really good for the sport. At Nationals, it was so exciting for me to come in 2nd. I skated really well and I was really happy with that.
KC: Now, you finished 5th at the Worlds last year which is pretty incredible. How are you feeling about that competition this year?
Sarah: At the beginning of the season, my goal was to make the World team and I really want to get on the podium there. So, everyday I just keep working harder and getting better.
KC: You know, there's a lot of discussion in the skating world, as you know Sarah, about artistry vs. athleticism. What do you think is your strong suit? Are you sort of pushing yourself more on the technical side of your program? Because I know, technically, your program is more difficult, I understand, than Michelle's. How do you come up with the right balance for those two things you're trying to do out there on the ice?
Sarah: It's so difficult because everyday I train so hard at both aspects of my skating because that's what skating is--it's a mix of artistry and athleticism. I'm just gonna keep pushing myself doing the hardest technical moves that I can do and try to be the most artistic that I can be.
KC: Are you most looking forward to the Olympics? I mean, the idea of it must be such a thrill...Obviously, you don't know if you've made the Olympic team until a month before the Olympics which in and of itself must be very nerve-wracking. But, that must be something incredibly exciting for you to look forward to.
Sarah: Ever since I was really young, it's always been a dream of mine. And it seems so close, but I still have a lot of competitions and things before that I have to think about.
KC: Meanwhile, you're a student at Great Neck North High School, playing the violin, interested in going to medical school, is that right, when you're done with skating?
Sarah: Yeah, I'm not sure what i want to do when i... grow up (laughs), but...
KC: You are only 15 years old, you've got some time.
Sarah: When I get older, I'm not sure what I want to do. Maybe I want to go to medical school and try to become a doctor or be a lawyer like my dad.
KC: Well, that's great. It's great to meet you, Sarah. Best of luck to you. I know you're going to skate for us a little bit later on to a Bob Fosse medley?
Sarah: Yes.
KC: Which'll be really fun. Anyway, good to see you Sarah. Thanks and I'll see you down on the rink.
(At the Rockefeller Center rink)
KC: Olympic hopeful, Sarah Hughes, is here now to skate on the Rockefeller Center rink. And she's currently on tour with John Hancock's Champions on Ice. Sarah, good to see you again. It's freezing out here. By the way, I love your get-up which people will see once you take your jacket off. And it's very appropriate although I'm not sure those gloves are very warm. And you are skating this morning to a Fosse medley. How did that come about?
Sarah: My coach and I went to see the Broadway show and we both loved it so much that I wanted to skate to it.
KC: Is it more fun to skate to familiar music? I know it's more fun for me to watch skating when I know the music that the skaters are skating to.
Sarah: Yeah, I like to skate to music that I'm familiar to or music that I like.
KC: You're 15 years old, do you ever say to you're coach..'Can't I skate to Destiny's Child, or *NSync, or Backstreet Boys, or Britney Spears'?
Sarah: I know, I used to want to skate to them all the time, but I like this program a lot, so I'm happy to do it.
KC: And if you asked her to skate to those bands or musicians, what would she say, 'I don't think so'?
Sarah: She'd think about it to be polite, but I don't think she'd like it too much.
KC: Well, we're looking forward to seeing you skate here this morning. So, everybody, Sarah Hughes. I'll take your jacket for you, Sarah. (Sarah takes her jacket off) Hello! That is so great looking. OK, hit it Sarah!
|
