Sarah Hughes was born on May 2, 1985 in Manhasset, New York. She became the darling of the 2002 Winter Olympics when she won the overall women's skating competition in February. She beat out favorite Michelle Kwan and Russia's Irina Slutskaya. She also became the first woman to land two triple-triple jump combinations in one program. Hughes, who was in fourth place after the short program, staged a dramatic come-from-behind victory.

She is the fourth of six children ... She takes all honor classes at school ... Her off-ice interests include reading, rollerblading and playing tennis ... Her silver medal at the 1999 World Junior Championships enabled her to become the youngest competitor in the 1999, 2000 and 2001 World Championships ... She received the Presidential Award for Academic Excellence ... She hopes to study medicine and become a doctor ... Hughes' favorite quote is "It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice."