Sarah Hughes beat a pair of pre-Games favorites to take the women's figure skating gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games here Thursday evening.
Hughes, who ranked fourth in the short program, had a near perfect free program with her charming smile to conquer both judges and the fans for the most coveted title of the Games.
Irina Slutskaya of Russia who finished second in the short program behind American Michelle Kwan, had two shaking landings in the free program for the silver, and Kwan even fell to the ice rink for a bronze medal.