2 More Sarah Articles (NY Times, Atlanta Journal)...

[adrianchew]

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/24/sports/othersports/24SKAT.html?ex=1041397200&en=0e539067df18adbc&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

"I don't think too much about the word legacy," she said. "I'm 17 years old."

I thought that was a rather interesting response. :lol:

[adrianchew]

http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/living/tv/1202/24hughes.html

[rack]

Thanks for posting these articles. And thanks for running a great board!

[rack]

A couple of small details:

The article in the Times is on the front page of the sports section (below the fold) and is entitled, "For Hughes, Decisions, Decisions" (which seems a more accurate description to me than the internet heading). And there's a picture of Sarah, wearing a black turtleneck and black slacks, at the Children's Hospital in Manhattan.

[AxelAnnie22]

Thanks for the links, Adrian.

Seems to me that with each article I read, the chances of her competing at Nats grows smaller and smaller. Actually, if you go by the articles we see, she had already made a decision. With each activity she chooses (i.e. visiting a hospital) she is also deciding to take time away from training. And, that is a decision. It is kind of like if you put off your decision to have children long enough, you have decided not to have them.....at some point!

If her goal is to better her standing at NATS, her actions have not been consistent with that goal. And, I don't think she will come to the comp unprepared. I think she will cancel.

NOTE: I don't think anything she decides is a BAD choice. Choosing is just choosing. When you choose one thing, you don't choose another. If you have vanilla ice cream, you are not having chocolate. If you attend Colombia, you are not attending Harvard. They are just choices, and are not inherently good or bad. I wish her the best.

[CMc]

Yes that IS just your opinion, AA.

I don't think she'll cancel. I think for now she's ready, even after she looked tired last weekend, she's being rejuvinated as we speak.
I say "Go get 'em Sarah!!"

She's so cool! I think it's awesome that she volunteers her time for the hospital visits, for kids that don't even know her or who she is! What a non-diva! :)

And I think it's cool how she uses the word "paramount". When I was her age I thought it was just a movie studio!:lol:

[JDC1]

I think you're right Axel Annie, I don't think she'll be there this year, who knows maybe she'll choose Columbia and come back next year.
And yes choices are choices, every PERSON has the right to live their life according to what makes them happy and if in the end the OLY Gold is enough for Sarah I don't think there's anything wrong with that and it doesn't mean necessarily she fears "tarnishing" the medal or memory just that she wants to move on.

[CMc]

geez, maybe we should have a poll or something...:roll:

[Designdiva]

I think Hughes is out of Nationals this year. She's making some of the same wishy-washy statements she did before 2002 Worlds.

After reading the Times article, she simply does not seem committed. And that's perfectly fine if eligible competition is not her focus. As AxelAnnie said, each activity or appearance is time away from training/ preparation for nationals. It seems to me that if she truly wanted the National title she'd be working her butt off. After all, last year, she missed six weeks of training time with the wrist injury and ended up with Olympic gold. And let's face it, US Nationals is arguably tougher than any other ladies competition. She might not want to deal with the pressure.

I know a lot of people think Hughes has nothing left to prove. I think she does. She needs to show that she is wants to be a force in eligible competition. I was at the Crest Whitestrips competition where she looked out of shape, sluggish, and her jumps were terribly cheated. If she wants to go to college and just be a skating personality, she should just do that.

I often wonder why fans are so OK with Sarah making decisions that make her happy. Yet, Tara Lipinski got so much flack for making similar choices. I suppose it has to do with Sarah's likeable personality but it is still weird to me that some skaters get support to do what makes them happy and others have to fulfill committments to federations, yield to fan support, uphold the sport, yada yada yada.

It is also interesting that Sarah is stepping away from the word "legacy." When just a few months ago she said she wanted to be a "legend." That just sounds to me as she's out.


--the Diva, who likes people who make decisions.

[CMc]

Originally posted by Designdiva
I often wonder why fans are so OK with Sarah making decisions that make her happy. Yet, Tara Lipinski got so much flack for making similar choices. I suppose it has to do with Sarah's likeable personality but it is still weird to me that some skaters get support to do what makes them happy and others have to fulfill committments to federations, yield to fan support, uphold the sport, yada yada yada.

OK, then Sarah should just do the things that make everybody else but her happy...Is that what you're saying?:??

I don't know what people said about Tara, but if she had to make sacrifies as well, then I'm happy for her too!

I'm so very sorry for you if you're not used to such a generous personality like Sarah's. Maybe she should act like this whole career she's having should be just all about her.

[JDC1]

I never criticized Tara, her life her choices, what I found troubling were her injuries and the extent of them and how it had seemed acceptable to keep pushing when she has admitted there were times she could barely walk.

[nymkfan51]

I agree with most of you that it sure seems less likely that she will compete at Nationals. I would think if she were going, that now, with just three weeks to go, she would have already decided. Before the Crest event, I thought she would come out smoking, but she was really not in good shape at all. So, if she were going to compete at Nationals ... she would have been preparing feverishly by now. She may still surprise us all ... just have to wait and see.

[Designdiva]

OK, then Sarah should just do the things that make everybody else but her happy...Is that what you're saying?


No. That is not what I'm saying. Perhaps I was not clear enough. I said people want Sarah to make decisions that make her happy. Yet, they want other skaters to fulfill all that other stuff I mentioned. Weird is all.

I'm so very sorry for you if you're not used to such a generous personality like Sarah's. Maybe she should act like this whole career she's having should be just all about her.

That's a presumptious statement, especially considering we seem to be saying the same thing.:roll:

[CMc]

Well then I give up. There doesn't seem to be anything Sarah does or says that doesn't come upon scrutiny online, and it seems everybody has to have an opinion about her whether they are fans of hers or not.
I guess nobody can just give her the benefit of the doubt (except for nymkfan 51 :)). It has to be some ridiculous soap opera that plays out for everybody to gawk at and make a bigger thing out of than it is.

It's very sad that we live now in a world where people's lives have to be followed and critiqued as if they were being played out on "The Osbournes" or "Anna Nicole Smith", and it seems we have to play into the media's ugly clutches by reading everything out there. I know reporters have to do their job, and I guess Sarah and her family comply with the press based on the trust that what they're doing are primarily fluff pieces, but sometimes I feel like it's too much. OTOH, I think she'd still get scrutinized if she comes to an event looking tired like at Crest last weekend, press or no press, so it's a no-win situation.

[Hannahclear]

CMc, is there any top skater who is not constantly criticized and scrutnized? I think not, that's what we all do here, along with praise of course. Michelle and Sasha get just as much, maybe more. I think most people here like Sarah, as most people on the boards do, because she is a likable human being.

If she doesn't want to go to Nats, that's fine, it'll give another skater a chance to medal~ :o

[CMc]

Originally posted by Hannahclear
If she doesn't want to go to Nats, that's fine, it'll give another skater a chance to medal~ :o
OK, that's another thing. It seems this is also the opportunity for people to say under their breath "Ha! Now MY favorite has a chance to shine!"

While I agree with you, HC, about other people getting just as much scrutiny, it doesn't come from me at all. I don't spend every waking hour thinking of negative things to say about Michelle, Sasha or AP.

[Hannahclear]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by CMc
[B]OK, that's another thing. It seems this is also the opportunity for people to say under their breath "Ha! Now MY favorite has a chance to shine!"


~Well you can't blame them for that can you?

[Rachel]

She'll go or she won't and I doubt if she knows at this point, but this:

The surprise 2002 Winter Olympics ladies figure skating gold medalist was awaiting word on her early admissions application to Harvard University recently when she wound up on the same airplane as . . . Dick Button!

"I heard all about Harvard the whole way in," Hughes, 17, says, recalling her encounter with the bubbly Button, a two-time Olympic gold medalist (1948, 1952), skating commentator and Harvard man.

is going to make me smile for quite a while. Bubbly Dick Button, Harvard's most enthusiastic salesman.:D

[yogurtslinger]

There's nothing wrong with scrutiny. Tell me, do you ever "speculate" on the affairs of your friends, family or peers? People talk. Oftentimes, people talk about other people... it doesn't even matter whether these people are celebrities. The fact is, people aren't disinterested or nonjudgmental. I'm not sure why you are getting so offended?

Moreover, I don't think anyone here is bashing Sarah- we're just giving our interpretations of what the article seems to be saying about Sarah.

[Toepoint]

I think she will be at Nationals. I think she would rather be a part of the competition then just watching at home. :D

[gracefulswan]

i think she will go... her father was saying that it looks more and more like she'll attend.:)

[Lark]

Originally posted by CMc

I guess nobody can just give her the benefit of the doubt (except for nymkfan 51 :)). It has to be some ridiculous soap opera that plays out for everybody to gawk at and make a bigger thing out of than it is.

That is a very unfair statement. I feel like I give most of the skaters their benefit.
CMc, you really seem to get truly offended by any remarks made about Sarah other than by you.
I am wondering if you are related to her? Spill the beans! :D

[LAVENDER]

I guess I'm one of the few who thinks she will be there. Sure she's leaving the door open but I think she will be there.

[Giselle]

Originally posted by Designdiva

I often wonder why fans are so OK with Sarah making decisions that make her happy. Yet, Tara Lipinski got so much flack for making similar choices. I suppose it has to do with Sarah's likeable personality but it is still weird to me that some skaters get support to do what makes them happy and others have to fulfill committments to federations, yield to fan support, uphold the sport, yada yada yada.


I totally agree w/ that. I think it's great that sarah is being treated so well by the media and stuff but I can't forget the way tara was trashed.
double standards :roll:

[CMc]

Originally posted by Lark
That is a very unfair statement. I feel like I give most of the skaters their benefit.
CMc, you really seem to get truly offended by any remarks made about Sarah other than by you.
I am wondering if you are related to her? Spill the beans! :D

Lark--I apologize if you felt I was aiming this at you.
And no :lol: I'm not related!

[Designdiva]

I totally agree w/ that. I think it's great that sarah is being treated so well by the media and stuff but I can't forget the way tara was trashed. double standards

Giselle. Thanks for articulating this for me. It was exactly what I was trying to say.
People may have trashed Tara but at least she made a decision and stuck to it. I can appreciate that.

Choices skaters make really don't make my day go faster or slower. However, if I have paid money to see a skater and he/she starts waffling on whether they are going to show up for the competition, I'm going to be pissed. If you want to go, do it, if you don't want to go, stay home. Just don't have the fans waiting until the first day of practice sessions to find out if you are going to skate.

[AxelAnnie22]

Originally posted by Designdiva
.
However, if I have paid money to see a skater and he/she starts waffling on whether they are going to show up for the competition, I'm going to be pissed. If you want to go, do it, if you don't want to go, stay home. Just don't have the fans waiting until the first day of practice sessions to find out if you are going to skate. Well Said!!

[olivia]

I really believe Sarah will be at U.S. Nationals. She has the ability (and always has) to put it together when it counts most ... for the most part. That quality can never be underestimated, and I think Sarah is very confident in her abilities and has an undeniably competitive spirit.

O-

[Lark]

Originally posted by CMc
Lark--I apologize if you felt I was aiming this at you.
And no :lol: I'm not related! I did not feel it was aimed particularly at me alone. But as a true Sarah fan, I felt it was a very unfounded comment. There are a lot of us out here. ;)

[rack]

This has been a season of indecision and cancellations. Just off the top of my head:

Sarah- Grand Prix and possibly Nationals
Yagudin- Grand Prix and possibly Worlds
Ann Patrice- Cup Of Russia
Todd- Nationals
L/T- Grand Prix
Michelle- possibly Grand Prix Final
B/K- Grand Prix
Johnny Weir- Grand Prix
Angela- Grand Prix
And at Russian Nationals, Volchkova and L/A aren't there, and rumor at least is Plushenko won't be there (and neither will Yagudin).

I also think that both B/S and I/Z started the season with Grand Prix commitments which they didn't meet.

Injuries, illnesses, coaching changes, visa problems, drug testing problems, contract problems, and general post Olympic shakeup have affected many of the most popular skaters and their plans (and the plans and desires of their fans).

[Spider68]

As skating fans, I think we all agree that Sarah skated the program of her life and the mistakes and bobbles by the others made for a memorable moment. You will never take away the gold-medal-moment.

Personally, I am somewhat annoyed by the "waffling" I hear from team-Sarah and Sarah's actions. The comments are luke-warm, and he current personal appearance schedule would appear to cut into focus and training to win Naionals. Unless she is prepared to come and compete 150% with a kick-butt attitude, she should stay home, fill out those college applications and enjoy the gold-medal.

I don't want to see her compete a ho-hum competition.

Like it or not, there are at least three very, very hungry, determined ladies that are going to be giving their 150% for the top spot on the podium.

[CMc]

Originally posted by Designdiva
Choices skaters make really don't make my day go faster or slower. However, if I have paid money to see a skater and he/she starts waffling on whether they are going to show up for the competition, I'm going to be pissed. If you want to go, do it, if you don't want to go, stay home. Just don't have the fans waiting until the first day of practice sessions to find out if you are going to skate.
So are you saying you would pay money just to see Sarah skate? If you were that partial to her, you wouldn't be putting that kind of pressure on her would you?

What you seem to be saying is you don't care about their choices but you DO care when you've invested money into one particular skater.
Suddenly this is being put into the perspective that this is all on Sarah??
Bad. Very bad.

I paid money to see "Stars Stripes and Skates" last Sept. with the hopes that Sarah would be part of it (Yes, I admit that). We came to find out that CNN erroneously reported that Sarah Hughes was committed to it--I was not upset with Sarah Hughes about this at all. Melissa Ielpi, who skated in that tribute and also was one of the co-organizers of this event, told us that CNN had wanted direct word from her about both Sarah and Michelle Kwan's commitments, and I believe the only thing she could tell them was that they were asked, but they didn't get back to them at that time, and CNN went ahead and reported their commitments--BAD CNN! I blame them for grandstanding on behalf of 2 big names in figure skating, not Melissa, not Sarah (or Michelle). And possibly the ladies couldn't say at that time because it would have been politically incorrect to say no to an event devoted to 9/11--I don't know. But it was wrong to expect any of them to commit to something they were never committed to to begin with.
But in the end, I enjoyed the show regardless, and it was for a great cause, so I was NOT "pissed" in the least about there being no Sarah at that show.

[adrianchew]

Originally posted by Spider68

Like it or not, there are at least three very, very hungry, determined ladies that are going to be giving their 150% for the top spot on the podium.

Curious question - could you name the 3? ;)

[Yazmeen]

My guess on the three:

Michelle, Sasha (ESPECIALLY Sasha, she is the most hungry, so to speak) and Ann Patrice.

Michelle loves to compete and wants to stay
on top.

This is the "Year of Sasha" from all indications so far and she wants this title.

AP wants her breakthrough onto the podium.

Sarah? I adore Sarah, but I don't see the same fire there yet. Please don't shoot me CMc, I'm a big Sarah fan, but my estimate on her best odds of being at Nationals is only 50/50. She strikes me as a serious scholar first and a skater, second, and I think she has some tough decisions coming up, and as a doctor, I certainly understand where she is at this point.

It will be an INTERESTING Nationals!!!

[Designdiva]

So are you saying you would pay money just to see Sarah skate? If you were that partial to her, you wouldn't be putting that kind of pressure on her would you?

No, that is what you are saying.

CMc, the Diva does not need words put in her post. She says what she says as eloquently and succintly as she can. There is no deeper meaning in her comments that requires interpretation.

The Diva also refuses to argue over something she neither said nor would say.


Designdiva, who is more skating fan than skater fan.

[CMc]

Originally posted by Designdiva
No, that is what you are saying.

CMc, the Diva does not need words put in her post. She says what she says as eloquently and succintly as she can. There is no deeper meaning in her comments that requires interpretation.

The Diva also refuses to argue over something she neither said nor would say.


Designdiva, who is more skating fan than skater fan.

Well the CMc doesn't like being labelled a skater fan any more than the Diva likes being told what she said.
I don't like to argue about this stuff either but I can't help it when I see silly things being said like somebody should put up or shut up because they're not sure if they're going to a competition or not, all because of what it says in some article.

[adrianchew]

Need I remind everyone we can have discussions without picking on each other (the two of you know who you are!). :x

I'm almost beginning to regret posting the articles - every indication seems to point to a yes to Nationals in the articles. Can't we just wait 2 more weeks? ~adrianchew~

[icekat]

I find it so pretentious that the Hughes camp claim she has a
"life in balance". She only went to school for one to two classes at most. Her work was sent home with her.
Who else besides she and her sister have a coach who coaches only them. These people are so phony. This is JMHO.:roll:

[CMc]

Originally posted by icekat
I find it so pretentious that the Hughes camp claim she has a
"life in balance". She only went to school for one to two classes at most. Her work was sent home with her.
Who else besides she and her sister have a coach who coaches only them. These people are so phony. This is JMHO.:roll:

Oh yeah, those grades or any of those academic awards (or the early acceptance to Harvard) are SO pretentious. They're making it all up, icekat, wouldn't you say??:roll:

[icekat]

It's not the grades nor Harvad acceptance I'm talking about. Those are to be admired. It's the fact that they(the people around her, not necessarily, Sarah, herself) have in the past made it seem like she was a typical high school kid who balanced athletics, academics along with normal high school extracurricular activities. I don't think anyone can honestly say Sarah participated in a truly balanced lifestyle. She is not a typical high school student, she's an Olympian who won. You have to give up some things to achieve that. You have to give up part of your childhood. Some people aound Sasha's camp tried make it seem Sasha was someone who balanced school and skating(she had been homeschooled since third grade until her senior year when she took a couple of classes). Yes, I think it's pretentious. Somebody doesn't want people to know they were part of the marketing of young girls by a multi-million dollar industry contributed to by parents, coaches and agents who make this all possible.:(

[CMc]

Well even if you buy into that as a reality, icekat, the thing they're trying to say is Sarah's life IS balanced despite the fact she has to sacrifice some things (From what I've heard, she's only had to hold back on down time with friends, going to the movies or the mall and stuff like that), and contrary to what you believe about her schooling, she does make it up at the end of the season. I think even Sarah herself has said she's not a normal kid in the sense of a normal kid that just goes to school and has friends and family--It's the idea that hers is like a normal kid's life in comparison to other skaters' (In other words, she didn't have to move away from home and leave school and train, her family didn't have to move with her, etc.).
BTW, icekat, she still doesn't have an agent. Her dad is handling the deals that the would-be agent would have been handling.

[AxelAnnie22]

Originally posted by CMc
It's the idea that hers is like a normal kid's life in comparison to other skaters' (In other words, she didn't have to move away from home and leave school and train, her family didn't have to move with her, etc.).

It is clear that they are trying to project Sarah as the skater who has a balanced and normal life. However, it is still an oxymoron. There isn't a single skater out there who has what would ever be considered a normal life by any kind of criteria. And, when people say balanced they don't mean balance a lot of stuff. They mean that one has the usual proportion of teenage stuff happening in your life: mall, school, friends, sport, homework, car, etc. They don't mean flying all over the world, meeting with the President, etc. Those things are truly wonderful and exciting, but they go into neither the "balanced" nor "normal" categories. It is wonderful that she has been able to stay at home. But, not unusual. I think the circumstances (not the least of which was Robin's willingness to chauffer Sarah great distances, that account for that. Would Sarah have given up skating if she had to move closer to an elite training facility? Who knows. And, with her Mom's illness, maybe so.

Lots of skaters stay with at least one parent, perhaps away from the family home. And with the divorce rate the way it is, that may even be more norman! LOL!!

Originally posted by CMc
BTW, icekat, she still doesn't have an agent. Her dad is handling the deals that the would-be agent would have been handling.

Let's clear this one up. Sarah has an agent. Her father, a very successful attorney, is her agent. People talk about the fact that she has not had to hire an agency, like it is some kind of virtue. She is lucky that a member of her own family is qualified to handle those details.....which boil down to negotiating contracts. And, Sarah is also lucky, because I am sure that whatever fee (if any) her father takes is a lot less than an agency would charge :lol:

Please Note: I did not say that because I think the "life in balance" thing is bogus, that I think there is a problem, or that Sarah is less than who she is: A talented, wonderful teen. And, because she is lucky enough to have a father who acts as her Agent, that she is less blessed. So, if somebody wants to respond, please do so with respect for my opinion and thoughts.

[Hannahclear]

Sarah IS a very balanced person in many ways. She has emerged a champion who is healthy, has a strong family and didn't do quite as much moving around for skating as many others, like Michelle did.

However, she also came from a wealthier family that made this situation possible, and there's nothing wrong with that. However, it's not an opportunity available to everyone.

I think what people are upset about is that there's sort of a judgement placed on others when you make a statement like "A Life in Balance" because it somehow implies that other skaters are nuts and did insane things in name of gold. And this may be true, but so did Sarah, in many ways, she just had to give up different areas. She didn't move, but she certainly didn't make every class in school.....I mean really. This might be how it sounds to some.

Personally, I don't really care what they want to make a slogan out of, and I don't find it off putting at all, but some apparently do and they have some points to make.

I don't know if I'm being clear here, just tell me if I need to clarify further.

[Blue Ridge]

Can someone cite the exact statements from Sarah or Robin that directly indicate that Sarah is considering not going to Nationals?

[missmarysgarden]

For what its worth, which may be nothing, I will be very surprised if Sarah goes to Nationals. It's more than a gut level feeling. Sarah has not been competing at all, and Nationals are 3+ weeks away. She has surprised us before, but I will be quite surprised if we see her at Nationals, and if she does show up, I will be surprised if we see the highly competitive performances she will need to win - or even place. Skating is a sport, and at the elite level, intense physical and mental preparation for important competitions is the norm, not the exception. There will be plenty of hungry athletes who show up buff, trained and focused. It won't be a "walk-on" kind of event. I don't have any feeling one way or the other as to whether she should compete - that's up to her; I just don't think we will see her at Nationals.

[adrianchew]

Perhaps we need to differentiate between "balance" and "normal". The show did show all the question marks that Sarah needs to address for the future - and to say "a life in balance" could possibly mean they're trying to figure out how to balance all the life choices she faces - skating, college, endorsements, family, etc.

[missmarysgarden]

Hannahclear, you make a very good point.

Sarah does come from a "well-fixed" family - and it does make a difference. That's why we use the word "advantaged" to describe those who are born into wealth. There is an awful lot of decision making and resource allocation that goes on in a family that is supporting the athletic careers of young athletes. Families with $$$$ have more options in their decision making because $$$$ are a big part of the decision making - fewer $$$ mean fewer choices, and more trade-offs. Parents have more time for their athletic children when they can lighten their loads by spending $$$$ for someone else to do more of what normally takes up parents' time - cleaning, shopping, cooking, driving, yard work, etc. - plus in many families today, those things come after two 40+ hour weeks.

All of my children are married. They all worked hard growing up. One of my children married into an extremely wealthy family. Believe me, I wish ALL of my children had the "advantages" that marriage provided for her as a parent. She has so much time for her child - to the benefit of her child; my other children are under constant stress just trying to get the bills paid, the housework and homework done, and the minimal driving required for school sports. If my grandchild wanted to be an elite athlete, it would be much easier for her parents, and any siblings she had, to maintain a "Life with Balance", than it was for my daughter when she was an elite athlete in a family of four with a working single parent.

I don't hold it against any athlete that they have "financial advantages". And it doesn't necessarily make them a better athlete. But it does make it easier to keep life "in balance", for many reasons.

[AxelAnnie22]

Originally posted by Blue Ridge
Can someone cite the exact statements from Sarah or Robin that directly indicate that Sarah is considering not going to Nationals? It won't let me copy/paste, but the NY Times article, down toward the bottom, Sarah says that she has lost a lot of training time, and doesn't want to compete if she is not at her best.

That is a less powerful commitment than her previous "Of course I will be there".

[Blue Ridge]

Thanks Annie, I guess that really does imply that she is considering whether or not to compete. :(

[adrianchew]

missmary, given the costs I've been told for skating, I don't think the Hughes' family is necessarily wealthy - probably comfortable, but with the number of kids including two high level skaters (Emily is already a very successful Junior skater), the kind of home they live in, etc - I would say they manage an average "upper middle class" family lifestyle at most.

OTOH - wealth can be a double-edged sword... kids can grow up spoiled, even if they are atheletes. Not all develop the right work ethics and not all reach their full potential, and no amount of wealth can compensate if the innate talent for the sport is not present. So it can be harder for the truly rich and wealthy not to end with spoiled rotten kids in the process.

[RobinA]

Whether or not Sarah goes to Nationals is totally up to her, as far as I'm concerned. I just hope that if she decides to go she will be prepared and at or close to her best. I don't think it hurts Sarah's "legacy" NOT to go on in eligible skating, but it does tarnish her (and Slute as well) to continue showing up at events not looking put together or even close to in shape.

One of the things that works for fans with Michelle, and Sasha for that matter, is that even when they aren't at their best (which no one can be all the time), they ALWAYS present themselves as if the event is important to them.

[Hannahclear]

I'm pretty sure that her dad is a corporate attorney, so they would pretty well off, but again, that is only part of the picture.

[missmarysgarden]

Adrien, what is wealthy to one is not necessarily to another. I would say that compared to 90% of families in the US, the Hughes are "wealthy".

It can be said that struggling tempers an athlete, makes them hungrier, makes the prize more "golden" - I'm not arguing with that. But since I have been involved with elite athletics for over 30 years, I can tell you that there are many who never participate in higher leavels because there is not enough money to pay training fees, no one to drive them and pick them up from daily practice, etc. Of those who begin training, at least 2/3 of the highly talented either never move into the selective training programs for the same reason. And of the 1/3 who do, over half of those drop out because the parents can't financially manage; and logistically, they can't manage two parents working, multiple children needing their time, money and love, and other similar factors.

Believe me, I've coached many spoiled little rich kids over the years. But it is almost always the over-involvement of their parents in a vicarious way that "spoils" them - not the availability of a parent to enrich their lives by providing broad opportunities and focused attention when they need it. Just because parents CAN give their children more of what they need and want, doesn't mean that they need to give them everything.

I came from a family that was "comfortable" - my father was an attorney. We were involved in lots of activities; my mother was available to drive us around. She was also available to make sure we did our school work, cleaned our rooms, etc. My mother had a full-time housekeeper - but I was responsible for thorough cleaning of my room, washing the dishes EVERY night (no dishwasher then), and all of Saturday mornings were spent doing house and yard work. My parents were not permissive. But when I had children, far less was possible just because I had to work full time and part time - and there was not enough money for the BEST viola teacher, or the private ballet lessons, or the $1,000 choreographer. My parents were good parents. I think I was a good parent. But I grew up in a milieu where there were more opportunities with fewer trade-offs - so I would say I had a balanced life. That was far less true for my children, try as I might.

This isn't a value judgment - just a reality check. I am not casting Sarah as a stereotypical spoiled rich kid. Far from it. I would guess that she benefitted greatly from her opportunities and support. I wish more children could grow up as Sarah has. This has been a very neglected generation of young people, and not so much by choice as by changing social economics.

I'm far off topic, so I'll close.

[adrianchew]

Wow - ok, I stand corrected... I actually went to look up census data to support your claims of 90 percent...

http://www.census.gov/hhes/income/histinc/ie4.html

Given how much lawyers make, its safe to assume Sarah's family falls into the 95th percentile range easily. I have friends at work who are in the 90th percentile range (dual income household) that would still struggle if they had to deal with the expenses of an elite level skater in the household.

[missmarysgarden]

Adrien, many corporate attorneys are in the $500K+ bracket. A competitive Level 10 gymnast (below Elite level) who travels to compete can expect around $10K a year for training, travel, leos, grips, special coaching, dance lessons, choreography, gas and depreciation, etc. Most of them are hoping for full-ride scholarships - a few get them. Elite gymnasts are far above that amount - but among the top ones, get help from USAG. Many parents clean gyms, host fund-raisers, man the snack bars, etc. to help offset the cost of their kids' training. Hard to do if you are also working full-time.

There are some great dedicated parents! There are also some who push and demand and drive their children crazy.

[adrianchew]

Not sure if I got the ballpark right but a Junior level competitive skater is probably at least $15,000 or more a year... a Senior level competitor could be up to $60,000 and if you go for ultimate in coaching and so on it can add up to even more... so yes, a lot of normal families will struggle if their kids reach these levels.

[AxelAnnie22]

How right you are!

Training at an elite level has to cost upwards of $75.000 - and, may I remind us all that that is AFTER TAX dollars - have to earn $150,000.00 to get the $75.000.00! I am sure the Hughes family is very well off. (Just think about the costume change for the OLYS. Jeff Billings does not come cheaply, to be sure.) And, good for them.

Had Sarah come from a different family, with different opportunities available to her, we might not see her on the Int'l scene.

Same with Sasha. She is one lucky lady that her entire family was able to and did move across the country so she could train.

These are not "normal", everyday events.

[Mazurka Girl]

missmarysgarden, your posts have been very interesting. And so true for many of the skaters I have known on both sides of the $$$ issue.

"It's the idea that hers is like a normal kid's life in comparison to other skaters"

CMc, maybe the comparative terms are exactly what have turned some people off to this whole discussion. I bet if you audited the training & schooling habits of a whole spectrum of competitive skaters, you would find more skaters than not who go to school & train in within range of their hometown. I agree with the others who have said Sarah has been lucky to have the gift of choice; & it doesn't really need to be compared in such a way to the situations of other skaters.

[CMc]

Originally posted by Mazurka Girl
CMc, maybe the comparative terms are exactly what have turned some people off to this whole discussion. I bet if you audited the training & schooling habits of a whole spectrum of competitive skaters, you would find more skaters than not who go to school & train in within range of their hometown. I agree with the others who have said Sarah has been lucky to have the gift of choice; & it doesn't really need to be compared in such a way to the situations of other skaters.
Who's trying to turn people off?:?? All I said (or was trying to say)
was that the whole "normal" thing was the in the context of what Sarah's been able to handle working around her daily schedule versus how some other skaters have handled it, and I think that some people mistook that for meaning normal in a more general sense.

[missmarysgarden]

The "normal kid's life" in today's America is two working parents, latch-key lifestyle, too little family time, and precious little money even for regular recreational skating...or other non-school sports. It certainly doesn't include tutors, international travel, media hype, daily long training, and a father who is qualified to manage potential earnings of millions of dollars. There is no comparison between the "balancing act" that most teens are faced with - daily school, a part-time job, helping out at home, and building a resume that will get them into a good college if they are lucky enough to afford to go.

I don't mean to say that Sarah doesn't have a "good" life. It sounds as if she has parents who try to keep things in some perspective. But it is a long stretch to say that her life is remotely that of a "normal kid".

[loveskating]

Well, I agree Sarah is not a "normal girl", but I also just want to say that there is nothing wrong with being an extraordinary person...and I think Sarah is quite extraordinary. Its not easy to be an elite skater and have the grades to get into Harvard, LOL!

And there is nothing wrong with being ordinary, either...its all the judgmental and "I'm better than you" stuff that makes people upset. Its only hard to be "ordinary" when you are not ordinary, then you are not happy in your work and life...and I guess vice versa too, if your talents are not so special and yet you have to deliver on a higher level than you are capable of...that would be rough too?

I did enjoy her special ... the stuff with the family was funny and enjoyable because it was a whole different slant on an elite athlete...and I enjoyed her improved split falling leaf and the fact she did a Charlotte as well.