Mirai Nagasu became the first American to complete a triple Axel in the Olympics as the USA took the bronze medal in team figure skating Monday at the 2018 Winter Games.
Nagasu took over the long program after Bradie Tennell skated the short on Sunday. Both came through, showing poise and confidence as they head to the individual women's event next week.
This is the second Olympics for the team competition and the second time the USA has taken bronze.
Adam Rippon, the man in the middle a controversy with Vice President Pence, showed no signs he is distracted. His impressive 172.98 was third out of the five skaters and got the U.S. off to a strong start toward the medal.
Nagasu was second among the five women, propelled by the triple Axel to a score of 137.53, a personal best. She is the third woman overall to land one in an Olympics.
Neither Rippon nor Nagasu made the Olympics in 2014.
"I've been waiting 28 years to get here," Rippon told NBC. "And it was worth the wait. ... God, it felt so good. And to see Mirai go out there and skate like that, it felt even better."
Ice dancing siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani finished up to hold off fourth-place Italy.
