The women were on fire in the short program round at the World Figure Skating Championships on Thursday as one medal contender after another skated lights out in her quest for the crown.
When the flames subsided, the US’ Gracie Gold found herself out in front of the pack by 2.5 points. A little more than four points separates six other women also in the hunt for the podium.
If Thursday’s competition was any indication, the TD Garden fans will watch today’s free skate final on the edge of their seats.
Photo: AFP
Gold enjoyed a deafening ovation from the home-country crowd for her tango-themed performance set to El Chocla and scored a personal best 76.43.
“I really felt great out there. I felt like I had a good practice and warmup backstage. I just felt calm and welcomed. This is a really amazing crowd. If I wasn’t so focused, I would have felt emotional just to feel that kind of support,” Gold said. “It’s validating [to be leading]. To be honest, I don’t know if it’s really quite sunk in yet.”
A Russian is second, but it is not either of the two expected to lead that country’s contingent.
Instead, it was Anna Pogorilaya who edged her teammates, collecting 73.98 to finish a fraction ahead of compatriot Evgenia Medvedeva, who posted 73.76.
Gold’s teammate Ashley Wagner is fourth (73.16), followed by Russia’s Elena Radionova (71.70) and Japan’s Satoko Miyahara (70.72).
All six women nailed their triple-triple jump combos, a second triple jump and a double Axel, and delivered impressive performances overall, giving the judges the difficult task of deciding their placements.
Japanese icon Mao Asada struggled with her jumps, including her trademark triple Axel, and settled for ninth (65.87).
The three-time world champion had executed picture-perfect Axels on practice this week, but it abandoned her in the short program.
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