TURIN -- Funny how figure skater Emily Hughes was nervous to use a microphone yesterday to talk to journalists -- pushing it away at one point -- but she said she's ready for the world to watch her skate.
The bubbly 17-year-old little sister of 2002 gold medallist Sarah Hughes soon loosened up and the thrill of her first Games took over her demeanour.
"I can't wait until tomorrow. This is the Olympics," she said, stressing the last word with her voice, and her eyes, which got big. "(It's) what every little skater dreams about."
Michelle Kwan's replacement on the U.S. team competes in the women's short program at the Palavela today.
Hughes, who does charity work, including auctioning a skating lesson to raise money for survivors of hurricane Katrina, is a fresh addition to the women's lineup.
Perhaps with her sister's genes, Emily Hughes -- a native of Great Neck, N.Y. -- can surprise the women's figure-skating world, dominated by seven-time European champion Irina Slutskaya.
Her sister beat Slutskaya, winner of the silver medal in Salt Lake City.
"The skaters in this whole competition are just the best of the best. I feel like I'm really pushed," Hughes said. "I'll be happy if I skate well, no matter where I end up."
Her personal best of 147.89 was achieved at the 2005 world junior championship, where she collected a bronze medal.
Japan's Miki Ando, who is the only woman to have landed a quad in competition, will challenge Slutskaya's hopes for gold.
Italy's world bronze medallist, Caroline Kostner, will have the crowd with her and could provide an upset.
Besides Kwan, an Olympic silver and bronze medallist who withdrew from the competition Feb. 12 because of a groin injury, Russian Viktoria Volchkova announced two days ago she won't compete because of inflammation in her right arm.
Hughes said she's the only alternate to skate at the Games. "It's exciting that no other alternate has ever competed at the Olympics," she said.
Canada's entries are Joannie Rochette, ranked seventh in the world, Mira Leung, 16, in only her second season on the national team.
