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CNN Live Today

Interview with Sarah Hughes

Aired December 24, 2002 - 11:41   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: American Sarah Hughes captured both hearts and gold with her Olympic performance back in February. She's no slouch in school, either. At 17, Sarah has already been accepted into Harvard should she decide to go ahead and go there.
Now, Ms. Hughes is also out -- she is busy spreading some holiday cheer at hospitals around the country in General Electric's Heroes for Health program. I had a chance to catch up with her between her visits to children's hospitals to hand out toys.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARAH HUGHES, GOLD MEDALIST: What the GE Heroes for Health program represents is it recognizes individuals in health care who far exceed the requirements of their job, and I noticed this firsthand when my mother was seriously ill with breast cancer and even though me and my brothers and sisters and other family always wanted to be with her, it was the people who were her nurses and her doctors and people like that who always took care of her, and people that she formed real relationships with, and really made a difference, and when my older brother was born prematurely, it was these same people that still keep in touch with us today, and I thought it would be great if I could be involved with a problem -- with a program such as this, and I was glad GE was willing to partner me with it.

HARRIS: You know, that's a great way to give back and to show some appreciation for something good that's happened to you and your family, then. Are you planning on studying medicine?

HUGHES: Yes, you know, medicine has always been very interesting to me, and I still have a lot of interest in the sciences. I am interested in studying pre-med, and as you mentioned, my early acceptance to Harvard was a thrill.

I'm still going to apply to some other schools because it's not binding, but today, I'm just really happy to go around to the hospital and actually, a toy store agreed to donate some toys, so I'm going around and handing out toys and I have my Olympic medal, so I am showing it to all the kids, and we're just having a good time.

HARRIS: Hey, that is good. Good for you. You get to play Santa. OK -- have to deliver your own gifts days before Christmas.

HUGHES: And some of my friends, some of my younger friends are here to help me give out the toys.

HARRIS: Hey, great. HUGHES: It's a whole little party.

HARRIS: Good deal. You know, you had the gold medal. Let me ask you this, when I heard that you were going to be coming in today, it struck me that this past year for you has got to have been just an incredible growing year and growing experience. What has been the coolest thing about having that gold medal, what is the coolest thing that it has either done to you or for you?

HUGHES: Just the actual medal is really magnificent. If you look at it, the attention to detail and the weight of it and what it represents every time I look at it. I mean, I put it around my neck, and no piece of jewelry could ever compare to this, and it's really just a really special thing. I'll always have the fondest memories and it's opened up a lot of doors for me. You know, I know a lot of people recognize me for my skating but through my education, my education really defines me as a person of my knowledge, and how I present myself to people, so through programs such as the GE Heroes for Health, is really has made this year even better for me.

HARRIS: Yes. You know what, every time you open your mouth, I get that lesson about how well educated you are. You are obviously going to be a great success there, but what about the skating? Are you going to still continue to do that? Are you going to go for the Olympics again, or you are going to go professional, hang it up, or what?

HUGHES: I definitely won't be hanging up my skates. I -- I really love to skate, and that's what came across in the Olympics, just my joy of skating and it's real. As long as I have a passion for it, I will always skate no matter what. I -- so far, I have relatively successful about balancing my educational and athletic pursuits, but I know college will probably be more difficult, but I'm looking forward to the challenge.

HARRIS: You have a very cool life, you know that? Way to go, Sarah. Hey listen, you might want to take that medal with you to college because you're going to have to use it to beat the boys off. I can tell you that right now.

HUGHES: Thank you very much.

HARRIS: Whether you go to Harvard or wherever. Sarah Hughes, congratulations, and good luck. And have a happy holiday season, all right?

HUGHES: Thank you for having me.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired December 24, 2002 - 11:41   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: American Sarah Hughes captured both hearts and gold with her Olympic performance back in February. She's no slouch in school, either. At 17, Sarah has already been accepted into Harvard should she decide to go ahead and go there.
Now, Ms. Hughes is also out -- she is busy spreading some holiday cheer at hospitals around the country in General Electric's Heroes for Health program. I had a chance to catch up with her between her visits to children's hospitals to hand out toys.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARAH HUGHES, GOLD MEDALIST: What the GE Heroes for Health program represents is it recognizes individuals in health care who far exceed the requirements of their job, and I noticed this firsthand when my mother was seriously ill with breast cancer and even though me and my brothers and sisters and other family always wanted to be with her, it was the people who were her nurses and her doctors and people like that who always took care of her, and people that she formed real relationships with, and really made a difference, and when my older brother was born prematurely, it was these same people that still keep in touch with us today, and I thought it would be great if I could be involved with a problem -- with a program such as this, and I was glad GE was willing to partner me with it.

HARRIS: You know, that's a great way to give back and to show some appreciation for something good that's happened to you and your family, then. Are you planning on studying medicine?

HUGHES: Yes, you know, medicine has always been very interesting to me, and I still have a lot of interest in the sciences. I am interested in studying pre-med, and as you mentioned, my early acceptance to Harvard was a thrill.

I'm still going to apply to some other schools because it's not binding, but today, I'm just really happy to go around to the hospital and actually, a toy store agreed to donate some toys, so I'm going around and handing out toys and I have my Olympic medal, so I am showing it to all the kids, and we're just having a good time.

HARRIS: Hey, that is good. Good for you. You get to play Santa. OK -- have to deliver your own gifts days before Christmas.

HUGHES: And some of my friends, some of my younger friends are here to help me give out the toys.

HARRIS: Hey, great. HUGHES: It's a whole little party.

HARRIS: Good deal. You know, you had the gold medal. Let me ask you this, when I heard that you were going to be coming in today, it struck me that this past year for you has got to have been just an incredible growing year and growing experience. What has been the coolest thing about having that gold medal, what is the coolest thing that it has either done to you or for you?

HUGHES: Just the actual medal is really magnificent. If you look at it, the attention to detail and the weight of it and what it represents every time I look at it. I mean, I put it around my neck, and no piece of jewelry could ever compare to this, and it's really just a really special thing. I'll always have the fondest memories and it's opened up a lot of doors for me. You know, I know a lot of people recognize me for my skating but through my education, my education really defines me as a person of my knowledge, and how I present myself to people, so through programs such as the GE Heroes for Health, is really has made this year even better for me.

HARRIS: Yes. You know what, every time you open your mouth, I get that lesson about how well educated you are. You are obviously going to be a great success there, but what about the skating? Are you going to still continue to do that? Are you going to go for the Olympics again, or you are going to go professional, hang it up, or what?

HUGHES: I definitely won't be hanging up my skates. I -- I really love to skate, and that's what came across in the Olympics, just my joy of skating and it's real. As long as I have a passion for it, I will always skate no matter what. I -- so far, I have relatively successful about balancing my educational and athletic pursuits, but I know college will probably be more difficult, but I'm looking forward to the challenge.

HARRIS: You have a very cool life, you know that? Way to go, Sarah. Hey listen, you might want to take that medal with you to college because you're going to have to use it to beat the boys off. I can tell you that right now.

HUGHES: Thank you very much.

HARRIS: Whether you go to Harvard or wherever. Sarah Hughes, congratulations, and good luck. And have a happy holiday season, all right?

HUGHES: Thank you for having me.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com