Team USA figure skaters back in the game
Team USA is back in the game.
The United States found itself in seventh place after the first day of the team figure skating event but pulled all the way up to third after the short dance and ladies short program on Saturday.
Team USA got a huge boost earlier in the day from ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White. The reigning world champions skated flawlessly to take first place in the short dance. Their rivals Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada had a small slip in their twizzles but still placed second.
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In the ladies event, Ashley Wagner redeemed herself after her poor showing at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. She slightly bobbled the second jump in her triple flip-triple toe loop combination, but was otherwise clean. "The entire performance was redemption for me," the 22-year-old admitted. "I needed to prove to myself that one competition doesn't define me." She placed fourth.
Russia's Julia Lipnitskaia dazzled, landing the most difficult jump combination of all the ladies and showcasing her flexibility in her spins. Carolina Kostner, who turned 27 on Saturday, skated a clean program to take second. Mao Asada of Japan fell on her triple Axel attempt, but her elegant skating kept her in third place.
The second round of the figure skating team event kicks off with the pairs free skate. The following five countries have qualified:
1. Russia, 37 team points
2. Canada, 32 team points
3. United States, 27 team points
4. Japan, 24 team points
5. Italy, 23 team points
The points from the short programs and short dances carry over to the next round.
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