Sarah Hughes won the gold medal in women’s figure skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics. A graduate of Yale University, she is writing her first book. She owes her success to her parents’ support.

“I started skating when I was 3 years old. Competing in the Olympic Games had been my dream from the beginning. When I was 12 years old, my mother was hospitalized with breast cancer. I was on the way to making my first national team. Seeing my excitement at each stage gave her strength through her illness. On days when she was too weak to walk, she would think, ‘I have to make it through. I have to be there for my kids.’ My mom was able to leave the hospital to come to Philadelphia from New York to watch me win the Junior Ladies title. That day I was skating for more than just the judges. My parents’ support made all the difference when I performed on the skating stage. When I won the Olympic medal, I was able to share more than just my skating experience with the people who were with me all along. I was raised in a stable, supportive environment.”

The Athlete I Admire Most