Hughes practices at rink near hometown
SYOSSET, N.Y. -- Figure skater Emily Hughes practiced at a rink near her hometown Monday. How she's getting to Italy for the Olympics was still being worked out.
The 17-year-old younger sister of 2002 Olympic winner Sarah Hughes was told Saturday night by U.S. skating officials to pack for Torino to replace Michelle Kwan, who pulled out because of an injury.
Hughes, from Great Neck, N.Y., finished third at nationals last month but was bumped after Kwan got the medical bye onto the Olympic team.
John Hughes, Emily's father, told The Associated Press in a phone interview on Monday that he was still trying to make flight arrangements for Italy.
"It's more difficult than you think," he said. "We'll get there. I promise."
John Hughes said he thought Emily would arrive too late to practice in a mountain town near Torino with the other U.S. skaters, Sasha Cohen and Kimmie Meissner.
Cohen and Meissner were expected to practice in the mountains until Friday. The women's Olympic figure skating competition begins Feb. 21.
John Hughes said his daughter was in the process of breaking in new boots for the world championships in Calgary, Alberta, in about a month.
When she found out she was going to the Olympics, John Hughes said, she went back to her old boots.
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press
