Ice skaters across Long Island are feeling hopeful about their own futures after watching the Olympic performance of Great Neck's Emily Hughes.

Many skaters, some who train alongside Hughes, say the 17-year-old's performance has them believing their own Olympic dreams are possible. Monica Stubbolo, a teenager from Lloyd Harbor, says she hopes to be in the next Olympics after watching Hughes deal with the pressure of the international spotlight.

Tim Murray is Hughes' skate sharpener and the only one he says she trusts to take care of her skates. He says the duo detailed a strategy to ensure Hughes' skates were sharp enough for the duration of the competition. He says a little extra sharpening in the beginning will allow the skates to stay sharp the whole time.