Figure skating at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing kicked off on Feb. 4 with the team event, and apparently Team USA decided to put on a show. Through three disciplines so far, the US has a somewhat surprising lead over the Russian Olympic Committee, courtesy of career-best programs from Nathan Chen, Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue, and Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier. With five events still to go, including the women’s short program, it’s looking like this competition will come right down to the finish.
In the figure-skating team event, teams are divided by country and awarded points based on how each skater finishes in their discipline: 10 for a first-place finish, nine for second place, and so on. The US has shown very well so far, sitting in first place with 28 points after first-place finishes from Nathan Chen’s short program and Hubbell and Donohue’s rhythm dance, as well as a third-place finish from Knierim and Frazier. The Russian Olympic Committee is in second with 26 points, and China is in third with 21. While the ROC is still favored for gold (especially with world-record-holder Kamila Valieva rumored to be skating the women’s short), Team USA has put itself in position for a potential upset or a silver-medal finish.
No matter how it all turns out, day one of figure skating has already given us some stunning performances to enjoy from Team USA. Catch up with the career-best skates from Chen, Hubbell and Donohue, and Knierim and Frazier ahead!