With all due respect the replacement Hughes has never skated in an international competition. Compare that to Kwan. Just because she missed the Nationals last month does not mean she is worse then Hughes. Frankly it is the opposite. Had Kwan been healthy for Nationals she would have placed in one of the 3 top spots regardless.
Meanwhile she bowed out early enough for a replacement to come in.
Its the media sucking this for all its worth not Kwan who left Turino.
I don't argue with that at all. She's surely a far better skater than the younger Hughes ... when she's healthy. She's not and she and her doctor knew it. And I agree the media is giving this more attention than needed. Move on.