Golden Girl Grows Up

[R.D.]

Article on Sarah Hughes in the LA Times (requires registration):

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-hughes25nov25,1,2695037.story?coll=la-headlines-sports

It was only the second day of rehearsals for Stars on Ice, Hughes' second day back in the world she left behind more than two years ago. Her return is surprising, because elite skaters rarely take a few days off at a time, let alone a few years. And it's intriguing because figure skating needs strong women to fill gaps created by injuries and attrition, the kind of strength and grace Hughes displayed in her improbable triumph at Salt Lake City. .

This'll answer that question of eligibility...sort of:

Before signing a one-year deal with Stars on Ice with "a possibility" for a second year, Hughes got a waiver from U.S. Figure Skating that keeps her eligible for the 2006 Turin Olympics. She filed forms to enter next year's U.S. championships but doesn't plan to compete there; beyond that, however, she's simply not sure.

Her progress [towards making a comeback] was delayed while she worked for New York's WCBS-TV as a reporter before and during the Athens Games. She couldn't find practice ice in Athens, but she enjoyed perks such as interviewing swimmer Michael Phelps' mother and hanging out with Andy Roddick at the Olympic Village. Her father says that solidified her resolve to skate again. "It was sort of the Olympic environment, being with the athletes and everything," he said.

She returned to reality when she resumed jumping. She can do all of her double jumps, but the triple jumps have been slower to reappear, and without them she'd have no hope in competition.

 

[NJSk8Fan]

It sounds like Sarah is trying to leave all avenues open so she can think about things and not be "stuck" in the pro rank if she decides she wants to compete again. At first I wasn't thrilled about her being with SOI, but I'm becoming more excited about it and anxious to see how she does, how she fits in. I wish her the best--and it might be nice to see her competing again.

 

[SkateFan4Life]

It sounds like Sarah is trying to leave all avenues open so she can think about things and not be "stuck" in the pro rank if she decides she wants to compete again. At first I wasn't thrilled about her being with SOI, but I'm becoming more excited about it and anxious to see how she does, how she fits in. I wish her the best--and it might be nice to see her competing again.

I would LOVE to see Sarah Hughes get herself back in competitive shape and make another run at the US, World, and Olympic titles. She is only 19 years old, and certainly has at least a few good years left to skate at the elite level, if she choose to do so.

Could a keenly trained Sarah Hughes compete against Michelle Kwan and Sasha Cohen? You bet she could! Remember Salt Lake City, folks......

Whatever Sarah decides to do, I wish her the best.

 

[bronxgirl]

Could a keenly trained Hughes compete against Cohen and Kwan? She's grown an inch, she still hasn't regained her triple jumps - she could compete, I just don't think she could win.

 

[R.D.]

Could a keenly trained Sarah Hughes compete against Michelle Kwan and Sasha Cohen? You bet she could! Remember Salt Lake City, folks......

It would be awesome IMO to see her come from no-where and beat them both at nationals. Whoops, didn't see THAT one coming! :agree:

 

[Lucy25]

"Sarah's really the first one we've brought into the loop that comes out of the triple-jump era and the athleticism that's become so required," he said.
Umm...have they forgotten Tara already? If she wasn't an athletic triple-jumper, I don't know who is!

I give Sarah all the credit in the world for keeping her options open, but with the Olympics 15 months away and her not able to do any triple jumps yet, I would say her chances are slim to none. If she proves me wrong, I will be the first to congratulate her.

 

[lavender]

I agree Lucy. I think Kristi is the epitome of a jumper that went pro. She could do all her triples correctly when she skated with SOI and she could still compete with the eligibles.

 

[Fossi]

GREAT GREAT GREAT Article! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I see people are already underestimating Sarah? Remember what happened the last time everyone underestimated her? She wiped the ice with Sasha and Michelle's butts, and Irina's sloppy mistakes and overconfidence. Not to offend, just stating the facts.
So you think Sarah can't beat them if they skate clean? Good for you for thinking that, but when is the last time Sasha Cohen skated a clean SP and LP in the same competition? If Sarah skates clean, with a 3/3, she'll beat Sasha. How about Michelle? When was the last time she skated a "clean" 7 triple LP? And Irina? Has she ever had a 7 triple program? She doesn't have a consistent 3/3 and her skating is often described as "sloppy" and she throws in triples when she messes up.
I don't know how Sarah would do against Shizuka, with Shizuka's two 3/3's and great presentation, but get Sarah in her top form again, and ladies and gents, we have ourselves a showdown!
Go Sarah! I'm not counting you out!!

 

[lavender]