Mirai Nagasu lands triple axel at PyeongChang Olympics
Mirai Nagasu
But the most magical and pivotal contribution came from  Mirai Nagasu   and it was over in an instant. In the span of one glorious eyeblink  Nagasu  who had been snubbed by U.S. skating officials for a spot on the 2014 Olympic team  poured all she had worked toward these past four years into the opening jump of her free skate on the final day of the team competition.
And when she landed solidly on one foot  after making 3Â½ rotations in the air   Nagasu  made history  becoming the first American women to land the high-risk triple axel in Olympic competition.
âYou did it  girl!â screamed her teammate  pairs skater Alexa Scimeca-Knierim  from the U.S. teamâs rinkside seats  loud enough for  Nagasu  to hear as she went into her final jump. She giggled to herself  which made her smile even broader.
âItâs historical and something no one can take away from me â  Nagasu  said afterward. âI wanted to make America proud.â
The womenâs skate represented the moment  Nagasu  had waited for since  her  fourth-place finish at the 2010 Vancouver Games.
 She  awoke at 4 a.m.  nervous about shouldering such a responsibility for  her  teammates and  her  country. But  she  didnât give a thought to omitting the risky triple axel. That jump â and the prospect of becoming the first American and just the third woman in history to land it at the Olympics  after Japanâs Midori Ito and Mao Asada â was the sole reason  she  kept training after being passed over for the 2014 Olympic team. Even before  she  could do the triple axel   she  dreamed  she  could.  She  dreamed of landing it so much  in fact  that  she  thinks  she  may have taught it to  herself  subliminally.
The falls  the bruises and aches over the years attest otherwise. But Monday was  her  moment. It was  her  vindication.
âMidori Ito  Mao Asada and now  Mirai Nagasu  â all Japanese heritage â  Nagasu  said afterward  with a proud smile. âBut I am fortunate that I am American  so Iâll be the first U.S. lady to have landed the triple axel [in Olympic competition]. So today is a day of accomplishment for me.â
But the most magical and pivotal contribution came from  Mirai Nagasu   and it was over in an instant. In the span of one glorious eyeblink  Nagasu  who had been snubbed by U.S. skating officials for a spot on the 2014 Olympic team  poured all she had worked toward these past four years into the opening jump of her free skate on the final day of the team competition.
And when she landed solidly on one foot  after making 3Â½ rotations in the air   Nagasu  made history  becoming the first American women to land the high-risk triple axel in Olympic competition.
âYou did it  girl!â screamed her teammate  pairs skater Alexa Scimeca-Knierim  from the U.S. teamâs rinkside seats  loud enough for  Nagasu  to hear as she went into her final jump. She giggled to herself  which made her smile even broader.
âItâs historical and something no one can take away from me â  Nagasu  said afterward. âI wanted to make America proud.â
The womenâs skate represented the moment  Nagasu  had waited for since  her  fourth-place finish at the 2010 Vancouver Games.
 She  awoke at 4 a.m.  nervous about shouldering such a responsibility for  her  teammates and  her  country. But  she  didnât give a thought to omitting the risky triple axel. That jump â and the prospect of becoming the first American and just the third woman in history to land it at the Olympics  after Japanâs Midori Ito and Mao Asada â was the sole reason  she  kept training after being passed over for the 2014 Olympic team. Even before  she  could do the triple axel   she  dreamed  she  could.  She  dreamed of landing it so much  in fact  that  she  thinks  she  may have taught it to  herself  subliminally.
The falls  the bruises and aches over the years attest otherwise. But Monday was  her  moment. It was  her  vindication.
âMidori Ito  Mao Asada and now   [TGT] â all Japanese heritage â   [TGT] said afterward  with a proud smile. âBut I am fortunate that I am American  so Iâll be the first U.S. lady to have landed the triple axel [in Olympic competition]. So today is a day of accomplishment for me.â