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Emily Hughes will be looking to come out of the shadow of her older sister, 2002 Olympic champion Sarah Hughes, at the Winter Olympics starting Tuesday.
Hughes, the 17-year-old replacement for US figure skating star Michelle Kwan, even had to correct one US journalist who mistakenly called her Sarah in her first press conference.
"I don't think it's too bad being compared to an Olympic gold medallist," said the buddly teenager.
"Sarah and I are different people, we just skate, that is why there are so many comparisons
"It's like a normal sister relationship. I try to take clothes out of her closet and she gets mad," she joked.
The one thing that the sisters do have in common is their desire to win.
"I think we're both really competitive poeple. That is why we're in figure skating.
"We weren't really competitive with each other because we never competed against each other."
Four years ago Emily watched as 16-year-old Sarah delivered her stunning gold-medal free skate.
This time she hopes it will be her who will be causing the upsets.
"The Olympics is such an unexpected competition," said Hughes.
"In 2002 in Salt Lake my whole family were there cheering for Sarah.
"We were high up in the third tier and were really excited.
"I got to experience being on the outside and she (Sarah) was on the inside. Now I'm going to skate and she's on the outside. I think that will help me at the these Olympics."
There are not many similarities between the New York sisters' careers.
Sarah was a world bronze medallist entering Salt Lake, while Emily has never competed at a senior worlds.
Hughes, a bronze medallist at last year's junior world championships, finished fifth at Skate America and Cup of Russia in the Grand Prix series before placing third at the US nationals.
She lost her Olympic berth after Kwan received a medical bye.
The sisters grew up skating with different coaches and spin and jump differently with Sarah skating "lefty" and Emily "righty."
"Just making it here has been such an achievement for me. I don't have any expectations just to go out there and attack and skate my best," said Hughes.
"I'm definitely a little bit nervous.
"I think it's a kind of nervous that makes you want to do better. There are no expectations on me. I just want to skate my personal best and whatever happens happens."
Sarah, now a student at Yale, had simple words of advice for her younger sibling. "Sarah said "have fun, just enjoy everything" and so far that's what I've been doing."
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AFP 171239 GMT 02 06
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