Robin's Parade Speech
Robin's speech introducing Sarah at the ceremony following the parade on March 10, 2002:
Otherwise known as the person who went "Oh my God" and fell off the seat in the locker room. But, um (laughs), you know, it's so wonderful that so many people have taken the time to join us to celebrate Sarah's remarkable achievements. It's really great to be home. I feel as if the Olympics were like the wedding and this is like the honeymoon. It's just terrific to see all of you coming out here today and sharing this with us. Everyone has said so many terrific things about Sarah, all of which are true, all of which you have seen over the television screen. But I just wanted to share some more personal times that Sarah and I have experienced over the past four years.
Sarah and I have traveled hundreds of thousands of miles to competitions and we have had experiences that have enriched our lives far beyond medals and newspaper stories. Don't get me wrong, 17 top 3 finishes in 20 international competitions makes for pretty good experience. But I have viewed my task as one of teaching, not just coaching. And the simple instruction I received from Sarah's parents when I took the responsibility for this precious package has been my guiding light right up to this moment. It was a simple message as most profound ideas are, "Take care of my daughter". And so in our travels, we have also taken the time to go to the Vienna opera, attend the Kirov ballet, visit the hermitage in St. Petersburg. We've walked through vibrant food markets in Budapest and Zagreb, shopped in Paris, and eaten sushi in Tokyo (which is not as good as ???? by the way). Two weeks ago we attended the Grammys in Los Angeles and it was amazing to see *Nsync and the Backstreet Boys and bono all over Sarah (and that's figuratively speaking (laughs)) wanting to take pictures with her and get her autograph. And here's a secret, at each and every stop along our journey the one constant was Sarah saying, "I miss school, my friends. I miss Deli on the Green. I miss Fredericks. I miss Bruces and I miss the Miracle Mile." So you all have been with us. We have felt your good wishes and we celebrate your support.
In Salt Lake City at 9pm on February 21st Sarah Hughes completed the greatest performance in the history of women's Olympic figure skating. (applause) Passion, and preparation had met opportunity and the world saw magic. When Sarah skated over to me and we locked eyes, we were not thinking about the upcoming judges marks or the chance of a medal. What we were thinking was that Sarah had been perfect, that she had performed with deep and genuine emotion that was felt by all (except of course for the Russian judge (laughter)), that she had performed to 100% of her capability and that the gutsy decisions that we had made together in the weeks prior to the Olympics had all worked out. We had committed to a second triple-triple combination, we changed the final 1 minute and 30 seconds of the music and changed the choreography. All of that and more was communicated when we looked at one another. And without our relationship of mutual respect, trust and affection, what happened could not have happened. I would have been too afraid to suggest the changes, and Sarah could not have said yes. I have always taught Sarah to accept, not deny, that there is pressure, to absorb the pressure, and in that way become stronger. Denying that pressure exists and trying to believe that you are just having fun does not work in world-class athletics or in any other high level pursuit.
A few hours before we left for the arena, I knew Sarah was ready to make magic. We had had 2 great weeks of training in Salt Lake City and Colorado Springs. Sarah had found the Olympic experience to be exciting and meaningful and she was proud to be an American representing her country. She was ready.
For the past four years, our usual pre-competition is for me, Sarah, and my husband, Jerry Grossman, to sit in our hotel room, discuss current events, the latest Maureen Dowd, Tom Freedman, Paul Krugman articles, and recently the situation in Afghanistan. We never discuss skating or the competition. But on the afternoon of February 21st something different happened. Sarah asked Jerry what it would take for her to win the gold medal. Of course, Jerry had it all worked out. Jerry's wisdom, advice, and ability to see how the future will unfold has been an integral behind the scenes part of our success story. He said, "Sarah, you have to skate brilliantly and Irina has to beat Michelle but not beat you." Sarah looked at him and said, "OK, I'll do it." And did she ever just do it.
I want to conclude by reading from an article by a leading sportswriter. It was entitled, "Hughes Rises to Occasion with Brilliant Skate" and I'll just read some excerpts:
When Sarah Hughes left the Olympic ice a few minutes after 9pm local time, Thursday, her coach Robin Wagner turned her around to take one last look at what she had wrought. It was as if Wagner was saying to her 16-year-old pupil, "Remember this. Remember every second of it." The arena was in an uproar over her performance, the most tech diff ever attempted in an Olympic women's competition. Sarah Hughes is the Olympic gold medalist in women's figure skating. Let me say that again, because I almost can't belie what I saw here at the Salt Lake Ice Center. One woman came to play in the long program and it was Hughes. One woman took all the risks and was rewarded. One woman treated this moment as the once in a lifetime occasion it was. Everyone else fell, or took the easy way out, or simply didn't rise to the occasion. None did what Hughes did.
This was about trying harder and succeeding. Hughes went through a very significant makeover. She added a second 33 combination and made very dramatic changes to the music of her program, adding 90 seconds of new music to make the ending a real grabber. The hard work was a total success. Hughes' performance built and built and built to the point that the crowd was louder than the music and Hughes actually ended several seconds too soon, unable to hear the final strains. But that didn't matter on her night of nights, the night that skating got it right.
(applause)
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentleman, and friends, Sarah's contemporaries, and all you young girls and boys who can and will do it too when you find your passion, here's Sarah.
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