OAR's Alina Zagitova Wins OAR's First Gold in Dramatic Ladies' Figure Skating Finish
AlinaZagitova won the ladies' figure skating event, giving the Olympic Athletes from Russia its first gold medal of the Games, Friday in PyeongChang (Thursday night ET).
The OAR's Evgenia Medvedeva took silver, with Canada's taking bronze after the free skate Thursday.
The 15-year-old defeated teammate Medvedeva in the rivalry that defined the ladies figure skating event.
With Zagitova taking the lead after the short program Tuesday, Medvedeva was not far behind, setting up the showdown Thursday. Both broke world records with their scores.
Team USA's trio of Mirai Nagasu, Bradie Tennell and Karen Chen faced tough competition. Tennell finished in ninth, Nagasu in 10th and Chen finished 11th.
Nagasu, 24, was considered Team USA's biggest hope for a medal. The two-time Olympian drew acclaim for her team free skate program, where she became the first American woman in history to land a triple axel at the Olympics, helping the United States win bronze in that event. She failed to land one in the short program Tuesday and struggled in the free skate Thursday.
Take a look back at all our updates and analysis from Tuesday night's ladies' short program if you want the full rundown.
Medal Winners
1st Place: OAR's Alina Zagitova (total: 239.57)
2nd Place: OAR's Evgenia Medvedeva (total: 238.26)
3rd Place: Canada's Kaetlyn Osmond (total: 231.02)
11:53 p.m. ET
The OAR's Evgenia Medvedeva was the final skater of the night, taking the ice to perform as "Anna Karenina." She gave a flawless, energetic and moving performance that left her emotional after she finished. She wouldn't go down without a fight in her rivalry with Alina Zagitova. The score came down to components and the two were waiting.
She scored a 156.65 to get a final score of 238.26 and win silver. Alina Zagitova takes gold, with Canada's Kaetlyn Osmond taking bronze.
11:46 p.m. ET
Canada's Kaetlyn Osmond started the free skate in third place after her short program. She opened with a triple flip, triple toe loop jump. She finished with a beautiful performance that was needed to compete for a podium spot. She scored 152.15 for a total 231.02, guaranteeing her a medal.
11:37 p.m. ET
The OAR's Alina Zagitova, who lead after the short program, performed to "Don Quixote." The 15-year-old's rivalry with teammate Evgenia Medvedeva has been the central storyline from the ladies figure skating scene, and the chants from Russian supporters started before she began her program. All of her jumps came in the second half of her program to earn bonuses. She left off the second jump in her first combo, but added it to another jump instead. She scored 156.65 for a total of 239.57.
11:31 p.m. ET
Japan's Kaori Sakamoto skated to selections from "Amelie." An overall fun-to-watch perfromance, she had one moment where she faltered on triple loop, almost falling. She scored a 136.53 for a total of 209.71.
11:22 p.m.
Italy's Carolina Kostner gave an artistic performance. The 31-year-old scored 139.29 for a total of 212.44, which put her in second place.
11:13 p.m. ET
Japan's Satoko Miyahara started off the final group, performing to "Madame Butterfly." She skated a clean program and beautiful program. She scored 146.44 for a total of 222.38, putting her into first place with a definite lead.
11:01 p.m. ET
The United State's Mirai Nagasu performed to selections from "Miss Saigon." After missing her famed triple axel in the short program, she popped her triple axel again and popped the lutz as well. Despite not finishing with the best performance, she was still smiling. She scored 119.61 for a total of 186.54, which put her in fourth place.
That completes the third group, and we're on to Group 4, which includes medal favorites, teammates and rivals Evgenia Medvedeva and AlinaZagitova.
10:50 p.m. ET
South Korea's Dabin Choi walked on the ice to huge cheers from the home crowd. She put a triple triple back in to her program after she missed it on the first time that drew cheers. As she finished she was emotional. Two-time Olympic medalist Yuna Kim was in the stands watching the performance, smiling after. She scored 131.49 for a total of 199.26, which sent the crowd into loud cheers.
10:44 p.m. ET
Canada's Gabrielle Daleman was seventh going into the free skate, but fell and lost her shot at the podium. It was tough to watch as she was visibly upset after her performance. She scored a 103.56 for a total of 172.46.
10:37 p.m. ET
The United States' Bradie Tennell skated to selections from "Cinderella." She fell in her short program, which was her only fall this entire season. She struggled a little in the middle of her free skate, but started and finished strong. She scored 128.34 for a total of 192.35, which put her in second.
10:28 p.m. ET
The United States' Karen Chen started things off for the American ladies, performing to "Tango Jalousie." She had a few techinical mistakes, but skated a program that she controlled. She scored a 119.75 for a total of 185.65.
10:13 p.m.
Kristi Yamaguchi sent her support to the Team USA ladies.
10:11 p.m ET
The OAR's Maria Sotskova kicked off Group 3 after a disappointing short program. She had a consistent, clean program that was a comeback victory after Tuesday. She scored a 134.24 for a total of 198.10 to take first.
9:48 p.m. ET
Brazil's Isadora Williams performed to music from "Mission Impossible 2." She didn't make the free skate in her first Olympics. This time, she look disappointed after she finished. She scored a 88.44 for a total of 144.18.
That's the end of the second group, and we're on to Group 3, which features all three Americans.
9:41 p.m. ET
Slovakia's Nicole Rajicova performed to "Rain in Your Black Eyes." She skated for the United States until 2011. Her perfomance was consistent, and she seemed to enjoy it. Rajicova scored 114.60 for a for a total of 175.19.
9:31 p.m.
Germany's Nicole Schott performed to selections from the movie "Schindler's List." She scored a 109.26 for a total of 168.46
9:25 p.m. ET
Australia's Kailani Craine was 16th after the short program. She skated a pretty clean program getting into her music from Moulin Rouge. The music was dark and edgy. She scored a 111.84 for a total of 168.61 to take fourth place.
9:18 p.m. ET
Finland's Emmi Peltonen made some key mistakes in her free skate. She scored a 101.86 for a total of 157.14 after the dissapointing free skate.
9:10 p.m. ET
Kazakhstan's Elizabet Tursynbaeva started off the second group, skating to "The Pryaer" by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli. Tursynbaeva is skating through a hip injury, according to NBC commentators. She was in 15th place after the short program. Her mom was there crying on the ice's side. She scored a 118.30 for a total of 177.12 to take first place.
The Americans will skate around 10:20 p.m. ET.
8:55 p.m. ET
Hungary's Ivett Toth skated to ACDC in the short program. But she went more traditional in the free skate, going with music from "Carmen." She fell on her triple loop and her triple lutz. She scored a 97.21 for a total of 150.43.
That's the end of the first group, and we're on to Group 2.
8:49 p.m. ET
China's Xiangning barely made it to the free skate portion. But as she was skating, a lot of elements were under review. She scored a 101.97 for a total of 154.43.
8:40 p.m. ET
South Korea's Kim Ha-nul stepped on the ice to cheers. She nailed her triple lutz, triple toe jump. She performed to parts of "The Winner Takes it All," giving an energetic performance and was overcome with emotion after she finished skating for her home country. She scored a 121.38 for a total of 175.71, taking the lead.
8:31 p.m. ET
France's Mae Bernice Meite skated to Chopin after performing to Beyonce in the short program. After a quick little costume change, she livened up the second half, but still fell once. She has a tear in her tendon, limiting movement, according to NBC's Tara Lipinksi. Meite scored a 106.25 for a total of 159.92.
8:25 p.m. ET
Belgium's Loena Hendrickx got the audience interested in her program. After a disappointing short program, shave gave a comeback skate. The 18-year-old scored a 116.72 for a total 171.88.
8:10 p.m. ET
Switzerland's Alexia Paganini started the night off. The 19-year-old, who was born in the U.S., started strong, landing her first jump. She scored a 101.00 for a total 156.26.
8:05 p.m. ET
Before the event started, commentators Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir discussed how the 15-year-old was psyching out opponents by nailing this jump.
7:40 p.m. ET
We're 20 minutes away from the start of the free skate, and medals will be awarded after competition concludes. There are four groups of skaters with the most likely medal contenders such as Evgenia Medvedeva and AlinaZagitova coming in the last group. The three Americans — Mirai Nagasu, Bradie Tennell and Karen Chen — skate in Group 3.
5:37 p.m. ET
Either the OAR's Evgenia Medvedeva or AlinaZagitova will win a medal, and commentator Terry Gannon thinks it's the only chance for them to do so.
3:37 p.m. ET
Here's the order for the night, courtesy of commentator Johnny Weir.
Leader Standings After Short Program
1st Place: OAR's AlinaZagitova (82.92)
2nd Place: OAR's Evgenia Medvedeva (81.06)
3rd Place: Canada's Kaetlyn Osmond (78.87)
