Amber Glenn reacts to her score in the Olympic women’s short program event on Tuesday. She got docked for landing a double loop instead of a triple loop, despite an otherwise strong performance.
Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images
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Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images
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MILAN — Figure skating at these Winter Olympics has been full of dramatic twists. And Tuesday, the first night of the women’s competition, was no different: The U.S. women all qualified for Thursday’s medal event. But they are considerably farther behind than expected.
The “Blade Angels,” as they have been dubbed, began Tuesday night’s short program as the nation’s best hope at an individual medal in this event in two decades. But only two of them finished in the top 10.
That ups the pressure heading into Thursday’s free skate, which makes up the other half of their overall score.
Reigning world champion Alysa Liu stands in third place, behind Ami Nakai and Kaori Sakamoto of Japan.
Towards the very end of the night, Liu, 20, skated a powerful routine to Laufey’s “Promise” that earned her a season-best score and moved her toward the top of the leaderboard.
