Hughes began skating at age 3 because her two older brothers and sister skated. She is the fourth of six children. She plays the violin in her school orchestra. Her teenage brothers play ice hockey and her sister competes in figure skating. Her father played college hockey at Cornell, captaining the 1969-70 team. Hughes hopes to study medicine and to become a doctor. Hughes won the Olympic Games 2002 unexpectedly, moving up from 4th after the short program to claim the gold in the free skating. Hughes suffered from a torn muscle behind her right knee in fall 2002 and was unable to compete in the Grand Prix Series.