Sister act can turn tiring for Hughes
Emily is focused on her Olympic journey, not golden girl Sarah's
08:51 PM CST on Friday, February 17, 2006
TURIN, Italy – Figure Skater Emily Hughes might not suffer by comparison, but constant comparisons have to get darned annoying for Sarah's younger sister. This is Emily's Olympics. The last Winter Games belonged to her sister Sarah, who rallied in a thriller to win the gold medal in Salt Lake City. Emily, 17, held her first news conference Friday in Turin. She arrived in the Olympic city Thursday to replace injured Michelle Kwan. Right after Emily answered a question about constantly having to analyze how she and her sister differ, a reporter made the mistake of beginning his question by saying ... "Sarah," into the microphone. "It's Emily," the younger Hughes answered, bristling slightly as she corrected the man. Sarah was nowhere in sight, but she will be on hand before the women's figure skating competition begins Tuesday. Emily, the U.S. bronze medalist, found out last Saturday night that she would replace Kwan, the five-time world champion who withdrew because of a groin injury. "It has been a little bit of a whirlwind," said Emily, whose afternoon practice drew a mob of reporters. "But it's been so exciting since I got the phone call." U.S. Figure Skating officials phoned the family to deliver the news that Emily should join the U.S. team of Sasha Cohen and Kimmie Meissner in Turin. "I feel great," Emily said. "I feel like I'm ready." She landed a triple-triple jump combination in practice. Emily's coach, Bonni Retzkin, communicates far less with reporters than Wagner did when Sarah was rising in the sport. But Retzkin did allow that she thought Emily's practice went "great." "The Olympics are such an unexpected competition," Emily said. "I'm definitely nervous." She said she never expected so much publicity. And she probably never expected to have to keep repeating that she and Sarah are different people. "But she's my sister, and everybody's going to compare us sooner or later," Emily said. In one regard, the siblings resemble plenty of sisters. "I might take some clothes out of her closet," Emily said, "and she might get mad." Ice dancing starts: Barbara Fusar Poli and Maurizio Margaglio proved that coming out of retirement was a good idea, finishing first when the three-part competition began Friday with the compulsory dance. U.S. medal contenders Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto were in sixth place, but only 1.42 points off the lead. The competition continues Sunday with the original dance. E-mail charasta@dallasnews.com 