The United States claimed its first silver medal in the figure skating team event at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
The Americans led early in the event, but were passed by the Russian Olympic Committee, which won the gold. The United States and Japan were tied with 48 points with two skates remaining, but a first-place finish by Madison Chock and Evan Bates in the free dance and a strong performance by Karen Chen in the women’s free skate held off Japan.
Take a look at how Team USA pulled off the silver.
Men’s short program
Nathan Chen got the United States off to an excellent start with a 111.71 in the men’s short program, a personal best and the second-highest score ever recorded in the short program.
SEE MORE: Nathan Chen sparkles with personal best in team event
Rhythm Dance
Madison Hubbell and Zach Donohue kept the first place vibes going for the U.S. in the rhythm dance, extending the lead.
SEE MORE: USA’s Hubbell/Donohue score top rhythm dance in team event
Pairs’ Short Program
Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier finished third in the pairs’ short program, but notched a personal best of 75.00 to keep the United States in the lead through three skates.
SEE MORE: Knierim/Frazier nail their short in skating’s team event
Women’s Short Program
Chen’s first skate in the team event didn’t go as smoothly as she wanted. A fifth-place finish dropped the United States to second behind the ROC.
SEE MORE: Karen Chen’s 2022 Olympics start with team event short
Men’s Free Skate
Vincent Zhou‘s 2022 Winter Olympics debut was a third-place finish in the men’s free skate, allowing the ROC to extend its lead to three points. Zhou skated to “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” in honor of China.
SEE MORE: Vincent Zhou’s team event men’s free skate in honor of China
Pairs’ free skate
Knierim and Frazier’s second skate in the team event placed last among the five remaining countries, dropping the United States into a tie with Japan for silver position at 48 points.
SEE MORE: Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier skate to ‘Fix You’
Free dance
Chock and Bates made their Olympic debut as a duo with a bang, besting the reigning world champions from the ROC to win the free dance and set up the U.S. in second with one event to go.
SEE MORE: Madison Chock and Evan Bates win team event free dance
Women’s Free Skate
Chen wrapped up the silver for the U.S. with a stellar performance in the women’s free skate, redeeming herself from earlier in the event.
SEE MORE: Karen Chen skates U.S. to silver in team event
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