I was re-watching Sarah Hughes 2002 Olympic Long Program and I realized that she's the last American Lady to win and that it has almost been 20 years since that victory.
Those Olympics were so special for her. She went in as an underdog, the 3rd American lady...a long shot to even medal. All the press and the spotlight were on the top two Americans (and honestly looking back I think the trio of Kwan, Cohen, and Hughes was as strong as the trio of Yamaguchi, Harding and Kerrigan had been a decade earlier). Sarah skated like she had nothing to lose. She was not defending anything. She just wanted to skate two clean programs (for herself as much as anything). She was so relaxed and composed...and ended up skating the two programs of her life! I think it was a transcendent moment for US (ladies) skating.
I do wonder why it has been (almost) 20 years though since a US lady has won. I don't think the federation is doing anything differently now than they did back then. Then as now, the federation put all their eggs in one basket, seemingly believing that they could only promote one "star" at a time. Sarah seemed to benefit from the neglect.
I can only hope that will work for the next American lady to step out of the shadows, shock the world and claim the spotlight.
Sarah Hughes (USA) - 2002 Salt Lake City, Figure Skating, Ladies' Free Skate
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA - 2002 Winter Games, Figure Skating, Ladies' Free Skate - Sarah Hughes of the United States had the skate of her life here, winning...
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Those Olympics were so special for her. She went in as an underdog, the 3rd American lady...a long shot to even medal. All the press and the spotlight were on the top two Americans (and honestly looking back I think the trio of Kwan, Cohen, and Hughes was as strong as the trio of Yamaguchi, Harding and Kerrigan had been a decade earlier). Sarah skated like she had nothing to lose. She was not defending anything. She just wanted to skate two clean programs (for herself as much as anything). She was so relaxed and composed...and ended up skating the two programs of her life! I think it was a transcendent moment for US (ladies) skating.
I do wonder why it has been (almost) 20 years though since a US lady has won. I don't think the federation is doing anything differently now than they did back then. Then as now, the federation put all their eggs in one basket, seemingly believing that they could only promote one "star" at a time. Sarah seemed to benefit from the neglect.
I can only hope that will work for the next American lady to step out of the shadows, shock the world and claim the spotlight.